Tottenham Hotspur can bolster their claims for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a victory at Leeds United on Saturday but interim manager Ryan Mason will need to get it spot-on with his team selection.

The 29-year-old caretaker boss is facing quite the dilemma after his side bounced back from their Carabao Cup heartbreak with an emphatic 4-0 win over basement boys Sheffield United, although Marcelo Bielsa's outfit are a completely different kettle of fish.

Mason's call to start Gareth Bale paid serious dividends as the Welsh superstar profited with a hat-trick, whilst there was another standout performer in Dele Alli.

It was only the 25-year-old's third league start of the campaign and his 78 minutes on the pitch were the most of any league appearance this term. He excelled in that number 10 role behind Harry Kane, with Heung-min Son and goal machine Bale either side of him.

He has surely done enough to warrant another start against Leeds, where his nifty footwork and ability on the ball will be required to beat their relentless press.

Of course, a case could be made for Tanguy Ndombele, but Spurs have just won 4-0 in his absence, with Alli playing a crucial and industrious role against the Blades.

Speaking after that win on Sunday, Eric Dier lauded his England teammate and provided a clue into the sort of work the 25-year-old has been putting into training.

"I thought he played really well. From the inside I can tell you he’s been working really hard and trained really well,” he said, via the Independent. "And against Sheffield United he put that on the pitch.

"Everyone knows his qualities, but I think he also has a lot of qualities which go unnoticed. The amount of second balls he wins, the amount he runs for the team and presses.

"He’s always attached to the game, it’s like he’s on a string to the ball. He is always attached to the game in every moment and that’s a great quality to have."

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Indeed, these are the sorts of performances which saw Alli record a phenomenal campaign in 2016/17, where his 18 goals scored from midfield earned him a second Young PFA Player of the Year award, as well as lofty comparisons to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes.

"I’ve got to say that I loved Stevie G as a player and Scholesy but Dele Alli for his age is just a freak of a talent," former Spurs ace Darren Anderton exclaimed, in quotes sourced by Goal. "I love his arrogance on the pitch, how clever he is in finding the positions that he does and his willingness to try everything. He is a real joy to watch."

Again, there's another hint towards Alli's work rate for the club, which is pretty strange considering that Jose Mourinho lambasted him for being "lazy" - when putting two and two together, that had to have been a reason for his continued absence under him. However, the recently-sacked manager once lauded the 25-year-old as a "team player," only adding further mystery to the situation.

The £26m-rated dynamo won nine of 15 duels, made three tackles and recorded three dribbles against the Blades (Sofascore), proving that he can do his bit for the team at either end of the pitch.

There may be a temptation to turn back to Ndombele but, after Sunday's showing, Mason must keep faith in Alli. It could prove to be a game-changing decision towards their chances of picking up a result to strengthen their top four charge.

AND in other news, Levy could revive Spurs by hiring 9x trophy-winner who dubbed Mourinho "a little man"...