Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino thinks Dele Alli will soon return to his best and has defended the 21-year-old whose form has dipped recently.

Alli has only scored one Premier League goal since August – against Liverpool – but Pochettino remains content with his performances despite the recent criticism that has come the England international’s way.

Alli has been one of Spurs’ star performers in the last two seasons following his £5million transfer from MK Dons and has found the net 31 times in 83 Premier League appearances for the club.

He is 7/4 to score at any time at Watford on Saturday for a Spurs side that has slipped to seventh in the Premier League table after losing 2-1 at Leicester City on Tuesday.

“I’m so happy with him,” Pochettino said when asked about Alli.

“Your question is like ‘Oh, Dele Alli is not performing like in the last few years’, but his first few years were the last few seasons, he’s so young.

“He needs to find his balance. But I am happy with him. Because he’s a very talented player, we expect him to score in every game and make unbelievable things. It’s normal sometimes the players are up and down.”

Spurs, 5/4 to finish in the top four this season, can be backed at 8/11 to beat the Hornets at Vicarage Road this weekend.