- Alli’s contract with Everton was up in the summer but he has stayed at the club
- He was hoping to return to action in the near future after a lengthy injury lay-off
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all on bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW to It’s All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Dele Alli‘s hopes of returning to action has taken another hit after the former Tottenham star suffered a hamstring injury.
The 28-year-old last played competitively in February 2023 during a loan spell with the Turkish side Besiktas. He has been training with Everton since his contract at Goodison Park expired last summer.
Alli had been hopeful of securing a contract with Sean Dyche‘ side, who allowed the England international to keep training with them. But, according to former scout Bryan King, their patience has a limit.
There had been hopes that Alli would be ready to return playing before he suffered a setback in October before Dyche revealed he had picked up a muscle injury that impacted his ability to train.
‘He’s just making sure he’s right,’ Dyche said last month. ‘He’s had a bit of a slip back with his fitness so he is just in that total recovery period. It’s a slight muscle strain, nothing too heavy, but because it’s been so long it is about getting him back into that fully fit zone.
‘It’s not easy but unfortunately it is part of being a professional footballer. He has had a tough run of it, there is no doubt about that, and on the back of him feeling better about himself.
Dele Alli’s hopes of returning to action have taken another blow after sustaining a hamstring injury
Sean Dyche revealed last month that the England international had suffered another injury setback
Alli has been allowed to keep training with Everton despite his contract coming to an end at the end of last season
‘To have this period out has been very challenging for him but whenever I see him he seems to be in good spirits. He’s well aware of the situation.’
The midfielder revealed earlier this year that he had been targeting a spot at the 2026 World Cup with England as he looks at an eventual return to international football.
Alli previously starred as an England regular and played at Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia two years later, but hasn’t featured since making his 37th international appearance five years ago.
‘You know you can set reminders on your phone, I have a reminder at 11 o’clock every day that says, “World Cup 2026”,’ he said on Sky Sports in April. ‘That’s my aim for now. I think that people will be like, “he hasn’t played in a year” but I don’t care, I know my level.
‘The only target I have is the World Cup right now. Obviously I’m injured and contracted to Everton and so my mind is just about taking it day by day and making sure my injury is healed and that I’m in the best possible condition after the summer.
‘It’s annoying because I’ll be just fully training as the season ends so it means that I won’t have to rush it.’
Everton were, meanwhile, open to offering Alli a new contract in August. Dyche said things were ‘ticking along nicely’, but talks never progressed.
Alli has made a total of 13 appearances for Everton, failing to score a goal.
