Dean Lewington is looking forward to seeing how MK Dons Academy starlet Dele Alli performs at Euro 2016.
Alli, who made 88 appearances for the Dons before joining Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, is set to start for England tonight when they begin their Championships against Russia.
“It’s going to be slightly surreal seeing Dele there,” Lewington told mkdons.com. “However, the thing with Dele is, nothing is surreal anymore – he’s made so much progress and every new challenge he just keeps on keep on going way beyond what people expect of him.
“There was always that question as to whether he could do it at the next level and he’s obviously answered that. I’m sure a lot of Dons fans have, like me, been cheering him on with Tottenham and just laughing, almost, at his progress because he’s done so well.
“It’ll be fantastic to see Dele doing his stuff on the big stage. He’s more than likely going to play every game there which will bring it a lot closer to everyone because he’s one of our lads who a lot of people here knew and watched.
“If Dele and England can do well, it should hopefully lift spirits.”
Alli is a one of a number of young players who go into the tournament on the back of impressive 2015/16 campaigns and Lewington is excited to see how they perform for their country during the tournament.
“At the moment, there’s a crop of young, talented players who all have an argument to start and feature which is really exciting.
“It will be a lot of players’ first tournament and it will be interesting to see how they react to that pressure. It will be a good tournament, though, and I think England are a good dark horse!”
Fancy a flutter on Euro 2016? Don't forget MK Dons will benefit from every person who signs up to Sky Bet and registers themselves as a Dons supporter - click here to register with Sky Bet!
“It’s going to be slightly surreal seeing Dele there,” Lewington told mkdons.com. “However, the thing with Dele is, nothing is surreal anymore – he’s made so much progress and every new challenge he just keeps on keep on going way beyond what people expect of him.
“There was always that question as to whether he could do it at the next level and he’s obviously answered that. I’m sure a lot of Dons fans have, like me, been cheering him on with Tottenham and just laughing, almost, at his progress because he’s done so well.
“It’ll be fantastic to see Dele doing his stuff on the big stage. He’s more than likely going to play every game there which will bring it a lot closer to everyone because he’s one of our lads who a lot of people here knew and watched.
“If Dele and England can do well, it should hopefully lift spirits.”
Alli is a one of a number of young players who go into the tournament on the back of impressive 2015/16 campaigns and Lewington is excited to see how they perform for their country during the tournament.
“At the moment, there’s a crop of young, talented players who all have an argument to start and feature which is really exciting.
“It will be a lot of players’ first tournament and it will be interesting to see how they react to that pressure. It will be a good tournament, though, and I think England are a good dark horse!”
Fancy a flutter on Euro 2016? Don't forget MK Dons will benefit from every person who signs up to Sky Bet and registers themselves as a Dons supporter - click here to register with Sky Bet!
