Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli deserved to be on the shortlist for the men’s Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award.
Alli has scored 16 goals already this season, but was left off the six-man list, which included Chelsea pair N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard, as well as his Spurs teammate Harry Kane, Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United and Romelu Lukaku of Everton.
The 21-year-old was named on the shortlist for Young Player of the Year – an award he won last season – but Pochettino claimed Alli was unlucky not to be in contention for the top prize.
“I think he deserves it because he’s showing great performances every week and in every game,” Pochettino said.
“He’s improved a lot from last season. I think he’s a better player, he’s showing better stats and in my opinion yes, he deserves it.
“After his first season in the Premier League always the people want to see again in the second season if he can confirm all that he showed last season.
“Not only did he confirm that, he’s improved in all aspects of his game. That means he’s clever, intelligent, still with potential to improve and learn and today he’s showing that he’s one of the best players in the Premier League.”
Kante, who was shortlisted last year for his part in Leicester’s remarkable season, but did not make the top three, is the bookmakers’ favourite for the 2016-17 accolade, with the winners to be announced at Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday, April 23.
Hazard picked up this award two years ago, when the Blues won the league at a canter under Jose Mourinho.
Everton forward Lukaku, the top flight’s leading scorer this term with 23 goals, is battling it out with a number of his fellow nominees for the Golden Boot.
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