Everton manager Sean Dyche has said that Dele Alli is still “miles away” from being reintegrated into the first-team squad, adding that patience is required with the midfielder.
Dyche also reiterated that Dele is in a good place after a period in rehab due to a sleeping pills addiction.
In an emotional interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap last month, Dele admitted that he had spent six weeks at a rehab facility in the United States. He also said that he was sexually abused at the age of six and sold drugs during a traumatic childhood.
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Dele, however, is still recovering from a hip injury that cut his loan spell short at Besiktas last season.
Speaking after Everton’s 1-0 pre-season victory over Sporting Lisbon, Dyche said to The Times: “He is still not over his injury yet. He is well in himself but he is not over his injury.
“We are miles away from that (thinking about his role in the squad), he is just getting himself right again.
“He is feeling good and now we will be working with him, on top of that, to make sure the injury is right. But it is still going to be a bit of time yet.”
Dele moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Everton in 2022 but has struggled for form at the Merseyside club.
He is now entering the final year of his Everton contract, which expires in June 2024.
Dele has made 13 appearances for Everton, who play Fulham in their opening game of the 2023-24 Premier League season on August 12.
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(Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
