Jose Mourinho wants Dele Alli to make a “fresh start” at Tottenham now he is staying at the club.
Alli has been out of favour under Spurs boss Mourinho and was tipped to move elsewhere during the recent transfer window.
But he remained in north London and Mourinho says he hopes the England international can get back to full fitness and rediscover his best form.
“He needs to recover from his injury,” Mourinho said at a press conference on Wednesday, as reported by the BBC.
“He needs to get back to training and have a fresh start because in the last few weeks he couldn’t even join in training.
“I had a good conversation with him yesterday. We spoke around this question (his future) you asked me and I think we found common ground. It’s an important season for the team. It’s an important period of the season for him also. We need him. We need a good Dele Alli. We are waiting for him to be back to normality.
“It’s just not just Dele. When you look at Dele, [Harry] Kane, [Giovani] Lo Celso, we are speaking about players that without all three we miss some creation or some magic around the attacking areas so we need him back and I made that very sure to him.
“Of course a conversation doesn’t make miracles. It doesn’t put a player in great form without limitations in terms of fitness, but I believe the conversation was the extra motivation that he needed to be back as soon as possible and to become available for the team.
“We play in the Europa League very soon, we are playing in the Premier League a couple of matches every week, we have the FA Cup, I don’t believe he will be on time for that one.
“We have a final to play in April so we need a good Dele back. And I believe that when physically he is ready I believe that mentally he will be in a good place to go for it.”
Meanwhile, Mourinho believes Harry Kane could return to action as soon as next week.
The striker has been out with ankle problems but his recovery appears to be going well.
“He [Kane] is happy with the progress and of course we’re happy too,” said Mourinho.
“I think it’s not a very optimistic thing to say next week he should be playing, it will be just a consequence of his good evolution.
“So we’re happy. We were scared when it happened but next week we play Everton and City at the weekend. I believe for one of these matches he should be back.”