Glenn Hoddle believes Dele Alli squandered a chance to impress Jose Mourinho in Tottenham’s Europa League defeat against Royal Antwerp.
Mourinho’s side lost 1-0 in Belgium, where Alli made only his third start of the season.
And Spurs legend Hoddle suggested Alli did nothing to help his chances of winning back a regular place.
“I think this was his opportunity,” Hoddle said on BT Sport.
“Jose would have put him in there tonight thinking ‘OK, hit me right between the eyes, have a great game and score a goal maybe’.
“It just didn’t happen for him. At the moment, in his all-round game, he’s giving the ball away too many times.
“Sloppy play like that is not going to get him back in the team.”
Mourinho made a host of changes, resting the likes of Harry Kane, but the decision backfired.
Hoddle said: “He took a bit of a risk. I’ve got to say Spurs were poor on the night. He would have expected more from his team even though he’s made them changes.
“On the night Antwerp were the better team. They worked harder and it was really impressive how quick they pressed. They created the better chances as well.”