Mauricio Pochettino provides update on whether Dele Alli could feature against Arsenal

Mauricio Pochettino has provided an update on Dele Alli ahead of Sunday’s match against Arsenal.

The midfielder has yet to feature for Tottenham Hotspur this season after sustaining a hamstring injury during pre-season.

Dele returned to training with the Spurs first team last week but was not risked for the match against Newcastle United.

The 23-year-old has picked up four different left hamstring injuries in the past two years which included a spell of twelve matches on the sidelines at the start of the year (Guardian).

Given the England international’s history of issues with his hamstring, Pochettino is right to be cautious about risking Dele before he is fully ready to return.

The Spurs boss revealed that he will make a decision on whether to include the player in his squad for the North London derby after tomorrow’s training session and refused to be drawn on the percentage chance of him being available.

Tottenham have missed Dele’s creativity in the final third during the opening matches and his return to the Emirates would certainly spark memories of the delightful chip he scored against them in the Carabao Cup victory last season.

Pochettino told Football.London: “Dele got injured in Audi Cup and we need to assess tomorrow. Maybe he will be involved in the squad. It’s not sure. We need to assess. He’s got one training session more.

“He’s doing well but still we need to assess him. I don’t know. For different players we need to assess, we have other issues to assess tomorrow. I cannot say today if he’s 50-50, 80-20, 20-80 I don’t know. We need to see tomorrow and take the decision.”