Why did Dele Alli flop again at Como? Former team-mate explains - with Jose Mourinho partly to blame for spectacular fall from grace

A move to Italy was supposed to help get the ex-England international back on track, as he escaped the spotlight in his homeland. Just one appearance later, which lasted less than 10 minutes and delivered a red card, and Dele has been cast aside by Cesc Fabregas and Co.

He is being forced to train away from the Como first-team squad, with another new challenge now being sought - with retirement speculation being played down. It could be that the 29-year-old returns to English football, where he has previously spent time with MK Dons, Tottenham and Everton.

Dele worked alongside Lewington in Milton Keynes, with the Dons legend telling talkSPORT of what has gone wrong for a player who was once considered to form part of the global elite: “It's a shame. I think everyone thought Como was a good move - getting out of the limelight of England and going away and just getting his head down and playing games, it seemed like it would be the right move for him.

“But it's just a shame it doesn't seem to have worked out, for whatever reason. I think injuries are a big part. He just can't seem to get a run of games or get any football. And if you're not playing at his age, it causes other stuff as well. So it's just a shame that it's not quite worked out for him.”

Dele’s demise began at Spurs, where he was once called “f*cking lazy” by Jose Mourinho in front of team-mates and documentary cameras, with Lewington adding on a surprising slump: “I think those first three seasons at Tottenham, he won PFA Young Player of the Year twice. And his numbers and his stats were incredible.  And the documentary that came out, I don’t think helped him.

“I think the change of manager, when Pochettino left, really affected him, and injuries and other stuff that he had going on. But he just never seemed to be able to recapture those early years, where I think he was probably one of the most promising players in England for a few years at that time.”

Dele signed an 18-month contract with Como, but is set to see that deal torn up. It remains to be seen how much interest he can generate in England, with form and fitness continuing to prove elusive.