da pixbet: Dele Alli has teased his return to football after missing the whole of this season through injury as he aims to get his career back on track.
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Dele hints at return to footballMidfielder hasn't played all seasonLong-term injury has ruled him outWHAT HAPPENED?
Having not played at all in 2023-24, Dele appeared on and spoke about his road to both physical and mental recovery after a tough few years.
AdvertisementThe Overlap/Sky SportsTHE BIGGER PICTURE
This appearance was Dele's first interview since opening up last summer on with Gary Neville about entering rehab after an ill-fated loan at Besiktas in 2023 because of a sleeping pill addiction and mental health issues. The 28-year-old was overcoming those problems at the time of that interview, but his return to the pitch has been delayed by a long-term groin injury.
WHAT DELE SAID
Dele said: "I've had to be patient and really learn what patience is. It's been a long journey with the [groin] injury.
"A lot of ups and downs and it’s helped me grow as a person. I'm not thankful to be injured but to have this opportunity to get to know myself. I think the pain of the injury is something I can channel when I am back and use it to motivate me.
"After the interview a lot of people asked me 'when are you coming back to football' and they thought I was taking a break. It's just been an injury problem, one that I'm hopefully getting to the end of. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm excited."
DID YOU KNOW?
Dele made his senior England debut aged 19 in October 2015, just five months after he had been playing in League One with MK Dons. But the downturn in his club career means he hasn't added to his 37 caps since June 2019 – almost five years ago.