Deadline Day at White Hart Lane brought nothing but frustration for Spurs fans as all the deals slipped away, and the much maligned Emmanuel Adebayor remained at the club.

However, there is a rising star by the name of Dele Alli who is ready to help lift the gloom in North London.

After a winless opening four games ofn the Premier League season and a frustrating end to the transfer window, Spurs fans could be forgiven for feeling a little apprehensive ahead of the rest of the campaing.

But amid the disappointment of Mauricio Pochettino's side's stuttering start and unsuccessful pursuit of West Brom striker Saido Berahino, the fresh faced lad from Milton Keynes is providing some much needed optimism.

Alli had confirmed is move to White Hart Lane in January, signing for £5m before going back on loan to MK Dons for the remainder of the season. He scored an impressive 16 goals from midfield last term as he helped his side to promotion to the Championship, and he also got an individual award of Football League Young Player of the Year.

The youngster had a fantastic season and had a lot of responsibility for his side's success, and it is perhaps that pressure from the expectation on his shoulders has made it easy for Alli to settle into life at Spurs so seamlessly.

Perhaps the biggest eye opener for Alli was in pre-season, where he had gone from lining up against Yeovil Town three months previous to lining up against the mite of Real Madrid in August.

But he was unfazed by the occasion and he introduced himself to the Spurs faithful by nutmeging former fan favourite Luka Modric, suggesting he has the confidence to go a very long with that kind of quality and confidence.

The teenage midfielder's rapid rise continued with a Premier League debut at Old Trafford, and he scored his first goal for Spurs after coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Leicester. A call up to the England U21s followed, and now the pressure is mounting for Pochettino to get him a first start at Spurs.

At MK Dons they are revelling in his success. Alli joined the Dons' academy in 2007 when he was just 11-years-old, and his promising talent saw him fast tracked into the first team at the age of just sixteen.

His rise just kept on going, and on just his second game for the Dons he scored a stunning long range goal against Cambridge, which led to manager Karl Robinson claiming he was one of the best 17-year-olds this country has ever seen.

Scouts then descended on the Stadium:mk and Pochettino was in the crowd last season to watch Alli's stunning performance against Man Unitd in that memorable 4-0 win. He was suitably impressed, and said: "He played centre midfield and was a 17-year-old playing like a 30-year-old."

Alli's comfort in possession defies his years, but he is also a formidable athlete who has provided an injection of dynamism on his appearances for Spurs.

Alli's 6ft 2in frame makes him an imposing presence in midfield, and his playing style is characterised by tireless box-to-box running. Alli was only on the pitch for 25 minutes in Spurs' draw with Leicester, but Premier League tracking data shows he made more high-intensity sprints (34) than six of Tottenham's starters that day, including the man he replaced - Erik Lamela.

The transfer window may have ended in disappointment for Spurs, but the signing of Dele Alli could prove to be a real coup.

After all, the 19-year-old has made a habit of exceeding expectations, and Pochettino will be hoping his bright start at Spurs is a sign of what's to come.

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