Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores admits he hadn’t heard of Dele Alli prior to this season but says the midfielder is a fantastic player who has quickly become an important part of the Spurs side.

The 19-year-old has been one of the success stories of the Premier League season.

Tottenham signed the youngster from MK Dons last January but he remained on loan in League One until the end of the 2014/2015 campaign.

He joined up with Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the summer and was a substitute for the club’s first three Premier League games of the season.

But he quickly won a place in the starting XI and has gone from strength to strength, including scoring a stunning goal for England against France in November. 

And Alli should, barring any late concerns over the dizzy spell he suffered against Norwich City on Tuesday, be in the Spurs side against Watford tomorrow.

“Dele Alli is fantastic and is a very important player for Tottenham,” Flores said.

“He is always in the right space and likes to get into the box. To be honest I didn’t know him before this season.

"He is a young player who has been a big surprise in the Premier League with his level of performances.

“He is important because he can do a lot of things. He can play at the back of the midfield, he can run in behind defenders, he can run in the box and play like a striker. His value is very high in Tottenham’s team.”

Watford’s defence will also have to contend with Spurs striker Harry Kane.

The England international, who had a trial with the Hornets in 2004, has scored eight goals in his last eleven matches in all competitions.

“Kane is a very good player,” Flores said. “Tottenham have a very good midfield but if you don’t have a good striker there is no end product.

"But Tottenham have one of the best strikers in the Premier League. We will see tomorrow at White Hart Lane three of the best strikers in the Premier League.”