The former Daily Star journalist told GIVEMESPORT on September 17 that the former England star couldn’t have been released by the Toffees this summer because doing so would have been “very harsh.” However, the former English star is currently battling to get back in shape, and with payments to Tottenham coming due after a few appearances, it will be a “long road back,” and Sean Dyche’s team wouldn’t benefit from having him.
Dele spent last season on loan at Besiktas and then had hip surgery in the offseason, which he has already suffered one set back in the recovery from [Daily Mail, 9 August], while he revealed a number of off-field struggles in an emotional interview with Gary Neville (13 July).
I don’t believe Everton could have released him, Brown remarked. That would have been very harsh, in my opinion. He is undoubtedly working out there, but we are unsure of his level of fitness and how close he is to being ready for the first squad.
“I still believe that he faces a difficult journey home. He doesn’t seem to fit Sean Dyche or the direction Sean Dyche is trying to take the team in, in my opinion. There isn’t really a strong case for playing him again because doing so puts them in danger of receiving more money.
“I think he’s obviously going to get a chance to compete but, at this point, I would be very surprised if Dele Alli plays for Everton in the near future. I think it’s more likely that he will never play for the club again, but we’ll see.”
Premature
Dele’s recovery from injury makes it likely unlikely that he will play a significant role in the Everton first team any time soon, but it would be incorrect to write him out at this point.
It might be more likely that the midfielder makes a comeback if Dyche stays in charge of the team, which is far from inevitable given the mounting external pressure and the manager’s own admission that he hasn’t been having fun.
Although personal and professional issues are different, Dele told Neville that Dyche had been very understanding of the struggles he had been going through. The Everton manager does appear interested in helping Dele get back to a positive position.
If it were physically and financially viable it seems that this Toffees side it crying out for some of the craft and creativity that the 27-year-old can produce when on form.
Granted, when it is a difficult task for anyone to play confidently in this struggling side at the moment it doesn’t look like the best situation for Dele to arrive back into.
And a number of factors need to fall into place for it to happen, but the player himself gave some positive indications of his hopes for the future during the summer interview so it would be hasty to dismiss the possibility before he is even fully fit.
