Jermaine Jenas claims Dele Alli's lukewarm performances are intrinsically linked with Tottenham's general decline.
Alli broke through for Mauricio Pochettino's title-chasing Spurs last season, scoring 10 goals and producing a string of impressive displays that earned him a starting berth in Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2016 while also collecting thePFA Young Player of the Year award.
However, Alli has struggled to emulate the brilliance of last season and has found himself starting games from the bench in recent weeks. The 20-year-old has cut a fairly frustrated figure at times during the current campaign, but Jenas believes it's important to look beyond Alli's performances as the main reason forSpurs' decline as a team.
Sky Sports: Dele Alli more valuable to Tottenham than Paul Pogba is to Manchester United. #THFC https://t.co/wupRaxG7rA pic.twitter.com/0m4TmDeztD
"I did struggle a little bit. My issue was more within myself," Jenas told BBC Five Live.
"I needed to do more in terms of fitness and work rate because you've got so many players looking at you saying 'I want to be you, I want to take your place'. It makes life very difficult.
"But I think he's [Alli] being harsh on himself. I think it's more of a Spurs issue - I don't think the team is playing as well.
"I think he's doing alright and if he puts away half of the chances that he misses, which he's been very self critical about, we could be talking about Dele Alli on eight or nine goals already," Jenas added.
Tottenham and Pochettino are hoping that Alli and his teammates will be back to their brilliant best when they entertain Sean Dyche's Burnley at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon.