#2 Dele Alli – England
It’s remarkable to think that the PFA Young Player of the Year of the 2015-16 English Premier League, who is all but confirmed to be a starter for England’s opening match against Russia, was a League One player only last year. Such has been the meteoric rise of Dele Alli.
Recalled by Mauricio Pochettino from his loan at MK Dons at the start of the season, he looked at home in the top flight from the very beginning of what turned out to be a season that dreams are made of, as Alli became a key component of the North London side’s phenomenal "nearly" season.
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The towering midfielder became the youngest midfielder to score 10 goals, racking up 11 in total, and assisted a further 9 times, thus firmly established his place in the attacking midfield of the Tottenham team.
His England career story is just as stunning, with him scoring a belter in his first appearance for the national team, against France, and later winning the Man of the Match accolade against reigning world champions Germany. Blessed with the ability to drive the play forward, while also possessing the work rate to shield the back four, he will be hoping to translate his fine domestic form into the Euros.
