Spurs manager Antonio Conte says he expects Dele Alli’s career to go ‘down, not up’ at Everton

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has said the careers of players who leave his teams go “down, not up” when asked about a reunion with Everton’s Dele Alli tonight.

The English midfielder left Tottenham this winter transfer window after seven years in north London, where he scored 67 goals in 269 games for the club.

Alli was a key cog during the Mauricio Pochettino era, where he helped the club finish in the top four for consecutive seasons and was a mainstay in the Three Lions set up.

A combination of poor form, fitness and a reported wrong application has seen him lose his way and lost his place at both club and national level.

The 25-year-old, universally loved by the Tottenham fans, struggled in the last days of Pochettino and even though he looked sharp under Jose Mourinho, it was fleeting and the drop continued under Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.

He joined Everton for a fresh start in January and hopes to pick up lessons from Frank Lampard, who is the brain behind the success of players like Reece James and Mason Mount, but Conte doesn’t expect Alli will be out for revenge.

The Italian manager explained ahead of the meeting with Alli tonight: “I don’t remember a player that when he went away, came back with a great spirit of revenge.

“Honestly, I don’t remember one. During my coaching, I always try to be honest with the players and give all the players the possibility to show me that they deserve to play.

“I don’t remember a player that had their revenge with me.

“What happens usually is that when players went away they went down, not up.”

Everton are struggling in the Premier League and are just a point above 18th placed Burnley, and need something from the game against Tottenham tonight.

Frank Lampard’s side put up a great showing against Manchester City last weekend and were unfortunate not to get something out of the game.

They will look to replicate similar levels of performances tonight.