Tottenham have announced the return of Dele Alli this weekend ahead of their north London derby showdown with Arsenal.

Described by Spurs as “one of the most popular players of the modern era”, Dele returns to N17 as a special guest on Sunday and will speak with pitchside presenter Paul Coyle at half-time.

It is the latest former star of the much-lauded Mauricio Pochettino era to be presented to fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Jan Vertonghen recently paraded in front of fans. Former captain Heung-min Son returned for the first time since his summer exit for a Champions League win over Slavia Prague.

Dele was at the heart of some of Spurs’ biggest moments during his seven years in north London, alongside the likes of Vertonghen, Son, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, and recorded 67 goals in 269 appearances.

He currently finds himself without a club, having left Como last season. Before that, he spent time with Everton and Besiktas following his departure from Spurs in early 2022.

The match will also be new manager Igor Tudor’s first game in charge, following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

Spurs find themselves in a relegation battle, in desperate need of points. They currently sit five clear of 18th-placed West Ham and two clear of Nottingham Forest in 17th. (The Standard)