'Brick by brick' - Dele Alli shares upbeat update as he returns to the grass in bid to earn Everton contract despite injury setback

The 28-year-old former Tottenham star has had a tumultuous time with injuries in the past couple of years. He underwent surgery earlier in 2024 and has been working tirelessly to regain his full fitness at Everton, with the club supporting him in his recovery process without any contractual obligation.

However, Dele's road to recovery has not been smooth with, Everton manager, Sean Dyche, revealing that the player has picked up a "slip back" which has delayed his return to match fitness.

“He’s just making sure he’s right," Dyche told reporters a week back. "He’s had a little bit of a slip back with his fitness so he is just in that total recovery period. He’s been out that long it’s just about making sure everything is right.”

Despite the fitness challenges, Alli remains optimistic about his return to football and recently posted a photo on Instagram, wearing a pair of football boots along with two bricks - an image that underlines his determination to rebuild his career from the ground up.

Since joining Everton from Tottenham in January 2022, Dele has only managed to make 13 appearances for the Toffees. His last competitive game came in February 2023 during a loan spell with Turkish club Besiktas.

The road ahead for Dele remains uncertain, but his dedication to training at Everton’s Finch Farm suggests that he is far from giving up. While the Merseyside club has yet to offer a new contract, Dele's determination to return to professional football could eventually lead to a renewed deal with the club.