TOTTENHAM Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli will be a key figure for England in the European Championships this summer.

But just three seasons ago the PFA Young Player of the Year was lining up for MK Dons' youth team against Southend United at Great Wakering Rovers' Burroughs Park base.

Alli netted a penalty in his side's 4-3 defeat against the Shrimpers.

And it is a game Blues' youth team chief Ricky Duncan still remembers with great fondness.

"I can remember the game really well and I can remember it being a bitterly cold evening too," said Duncan.

"The pitch was rock hard and it was all certainly a million miles from where Dele Alli finds himself now.

"I'm sure he would have enjoyed playing under the lights and I'm sure it would have played a part in his development too.

"He was someone we saw on a couple of occasions and was always very highly rated by everyone on the circuit.

"I can remember him being really hard working with a bit of pace but he was also quite slight back then.

"He's done brilliantly since then and has had a brilliant season which has been great to see.

"Hopefully he'll do well for England in the European Championships as well."

Lining up for the Shrimpers that night was goalkeeper Ted Smith who ended last season between the sticks for Phil Brown's side.

Striker Jason Williams - another member of Brown's current first team squad - was also in action along with midfielder Jack Bridge.

And Bridge can also remember lining up against Alli.

"I remember the game and playing against him," said Bridge.

"He was playing in a different position than he is now because he was in a defensive midfield role.

"But you could definitely tell what a good player he was."

However, Alli is not the only member of the England squad to have shone against the Shrimpers' youth team.

For Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling also impressed Blues coach Duncan at a very young age when playing for Queens Park Rangers.

"Everyone knows that Raheem scored five against us for Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup but we knew all about him long before that," said Duncan.

"I think he must have been about 14 when we saw him playing for QPR and we all came back telling everyone about this lad we had just seen.

"He certainly hasn't done too badly since then and it's always great to see these youngsters coming through although I only really like to focus on the ones playing for Southend."