Friday 8 November 2019 12:05, UK
It is a year since Dele Alli was named the Football League's Young Player of the Year having scored 16 goals in a stellar campaign at MK Dons.
The midfielder was back at the League One club on loan having agreed his £5m move to Spurs a few weeks earlier, and in an interview with Sky Sports that evening he insisted he was going to White Hart Lane with the intention of winning a first-team place.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge," he said. "Obviously having been at MK my whole life it's going to be a big step for me, but I'm going to keep fighting for my place there and see what I can do."
The comments seemed fanciful for a teenager with no top-flight experience, but Alli has fulfilled his ambition in style. The 20-year-old has been a key figure in Tottenham's Premier League title charge, with his superb double against Stoke on Monday Night Football coming exactly a year after netting for MK Dons in a 6-1 win over Leyton Orient.
Here, we look back at the key moments in his amazing breakthrough year, including his Spurs debut, his first appearance for England, and his heroics at the Britannia Stadium…
Pre-season promise (August 4, 2015)
Pre-season provided some tantalising glimpses of what was to come from Alli, starting with an eye-catching Audi Cup appearance against Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena.
The teenager was lining up against Rochdale and Yeovil Town just three months previously, but he introduced himself to one of the world's biggest clubs with audacious nutmegs on Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Spurs debut (August 8)
Mauricio Pochettino showed his faith in Alli by handing him his first-team debut as a substitute in Tottenham's 1-0 defeat by Manchester United on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford.
The youngster only had 13 minutes on the pitch but showed he wasn't afraid to get stuck in, earning a yellow card for a foul on Ashley Young in stoppage time. "I give a lot of credit to the manager for putting his trust in me and giving me my debut at Old Trafford," he later reflected.
First goal (August 22)
Alli marked his next appearance with his first goal for Spurs after replacing Erik Lamela midway through the second half against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
His big moment came when he headed home Nacer Chadli's cross from close-range in the 81st minute. Unfortunately for Spurs, Riyad Mahrez equalised just 90 seconds later, but Alli's impact was a major positive.
England U21 debut (September 4)
Alli's early cameos for Spurs were enough to earn his first call-up to Gareth Southgate's England U21 squad, and he made his debut for the Young Lions in a 1-0 friendly win over USA
He played 61 minutes after starting as England's No 10 at Preston's Deepdale Stadium, where Manchester United's James Wilson netted the only goal of the game.
First Spurs start (September 13)
After making his first three Spurs appearances as a substitute, Alli was handed his first start against Sunderland on September 13.
He played 67 minutes at the Stadium of Light as Spurs clinched their first Premier League win of the season by one goal to nil, and he has been one of the first names on Pochettino's team sheet ever since.
England debut (October 9)
Alli made the step up to England's senior squad just a month after his first appearance for the U21s having impressed Roy Hodgson with his swift adaption to the Premier League.
His debut came as he replaced Everton's Ross Barkley in the 88th minute of their 2-0 European Qualifying win over Estonia at Wembley, and he described the occasion as a "dream come true".
First England goal (November 17)
After further substitute appearances against Lithuania and Spain, Alli marked his first England start with a spectacular long-range goal in a 2-0 win over France.
"It was as close to a faultless performance as you can get," said a beaming Hodgson after the game. "I didn't think he was anything other than top class, but it is amazing to have no previous experience and go in and do that. What he did tonight was quite outstanding."
Signs new Spurs contract (January 12, 2016)
Just six months after joining up with his Spurs team-mates for the first time, Alli was handed an improved contract to tie him to the White Hart Lane club until 2021.
"I'm delighted," he said at the time. "The club has been really great to me since I arrived. We have a great young team and I can only see us moving forward. I am really happy to be here."
Wonder goal against Crystal Palace (January 23)
Just two weeks after signing his new deal, Alli produced one of the goals of the season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. With the scores level at 1-1 in the 84th minute, he controlled Christian Eriksen's header 25 yards from goal, flicked the ball over Mile Jedinak's head and sent a rasping volley into the bottom corner.
"That goal will be seen all over the world," said Pochettino. "He has shown his quality and what he is capable of." His team-mates were similarly impressed. "Dele is always scoring volleys in training," said Nacer Chadli. "He's very good at them and practises a lot so the fact it has happened in a game is not lucky. It was a fantastic goal, unbelievable."
Starring display against Germany (March 26)
Alli was still two weeks shy of his 20th birthday when he delivered a magnificent, man-of-the-match performance in England's 3-2 win over world champions Germany at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
His all-action display was vital as Hodgson's men fought back from two-goals down to claim a famous victory, with Germany legend Lothar Matthaus describing him as the best player on the pitch. With the Euros just around the corner, Alli looks certain to play a key role.
Manchester United demolition (April 10)
Alli marked his last appearance as a teenager with another impressive performance in Spurs' emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester United at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham's No 20 netted the opening goal from Eriksen's cross in the 70th minute, before quick-fire strikes from Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela wrapped up a crucial victory over Louis van Gaal's side.
Double against Stoke (April 18)
Alli netted his ninth and tenth Premier League goals of the season as Tottenham closed the gap on Leicester City to five points with their brilliant 4-0 win over Stoke on Monday Night Football.
His first goal was a well-taken chip from Eriksen's pass, and his second was a measured volley from another assist from the Dane. Even a glaring late miss wasn't enough to dampen the excitement around Alli, with Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, describing him as a "superstar" after the game.
