England star Dele Alli has revealed how football saved him from falling in with gangs as a boy.

With only days to go until the start of the World Cup, the Tottenham midfielder, 22, told the Standard how he was heading down the “wrong path” before his talent started to shine through.

Dele, who is expected to be a key player for manager Gareth Southgate, grew up in Bradwell, a tough area of Milton Keynes, and is estranged from his parents.

His family life has been the subject of much speculation. His mother denies she was an alcoholic and that she gave him up for adoption, claiming instead that he moved away as his football career began to take off.

Whatever the truth, at the age of 13 Dele started living with the parents of his former Milton Keynes Dons teammate Harry Hickford, in the more prosperous borough of Cosgrove.

The rise of Dele Alli 19 show all The rise of Dele Alli 1/19 The defining games of Dele Alli's career Steve Bardens/Getty Images 2/19 MK Dons 4 Man United 0 - 26 August 2014 The then 18-year-old prospect produced an inspired display to dominate Louis van Gaal's side in the second round of the Capital One Cup.



Alli's secret was out; everyone sat up and took notice. Getty Images 3/19 Leicester 1 Tottenham 1 - 22 August 2015 Alli was not expected to feature regularly for Spurs during his debut season at the club but immediately proved his worth with a late header to salvage a point against Claudio Ranieri's side. Getty Images 4/19 Sunderland 0 Tottenham 1 - 13 September 2015 Ryan Mason grabbed the headlines, courtesy of a late winner, but Alli's first Premier League start highlighted the impression he had made on Mauricio Pochettino over a short period of time in the early stages of the season.



He didn't look back. Getty Images 5/19 England 2 France 0 - 17 November 2015 Alli marked his first senior international start with a superb long-range strike, albeit via a slight deflection on an emotional night at Wembley in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. Getty Images 6/19 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 3 - 23 January 2016 Tottenham had their backs to the wall as the closing stages approached at Selhurst Park but Alli came up with a strike of enormous quality to drag his side over the line.



The goal of the season effort had timing, technique and audaciousness all rolled into one.



This was surely the moment any remaining doubters were silenced. Getty Images 7/19 Fiorentina 1 Tottenham 1 - 18 February 2016 Alli's fiery streak threatened to boil over in Florence after a petulant kick out at Nenad Tomovic.



The 19-year-old avoided a red card and went on to produce an impressive display.



The midfielder was defiant after the game and insisted he didn't want to tame his "aggressive streak." Getty Images 8/19 Germany 2 England 3 - 26 March 2016 Comparisons with Bryan Robson dominated the pre-match build up and Alli delivered with a magnificent display in Berlin as the Three Lions staged a late fightback to beat the old enemy.



Alli ran the show against the World Champions' midfield, which included Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, to cement his place in the starting XI. Getty Images 9/19 Stoke 0 Tottenham 4 - 18 April 2016 Alli was an integral figure as Spurs tore Mark Hughes's side apart to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the Premier League table.



Alli scored the first brace of his Tottenham career and really should have been celebrated a hat-trick, only to spurn a glorious late opportunity. AFP/Getty Images 10/19 Tottenham 1 West Brom 1 - 25 April 2016 Alli collected his PFA Player of the Year award prior to kick off but it turned out to be a sour occasion for Spurs.



Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered two vital points - which dealt their title ambitions a huge blow - and Alli was involved in a scuffle with Claudio Yacob.



Alli was retrospectively banned for violent conduct, bringing his debut season in the top flight to a premature end. AFP/Getty Images 11/19 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 - 2 October 2016 Alli helped inspire Spurs towards an important victory over Pep Guardiola's men, ending City's unbeaten record and confirming that they north Londoners will be title contenders again this term.



Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere. Getty Images 12/19 Tottenham 5 Swansea 0 - 3 December 2016 Alli wouldn’t find the net in this one, but the England international received widespread criticism for an apparent dive in the first half, that set Spurs on their way to a romping victory. Getty Images 13/19 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 - 5 January 2017 His brace at the Lane ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning run as Alli set a new Premier League record, becoming the first midfielder to score two goals in three consecutive matches (Southampton, Watford, Chelsea). Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 14/19 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 - 30 April 2017 Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second successive season, Alli scored in the final north London derby to be staged at White Hart Lane. AFP/Getty Images 15/19 England 2 Slovakia 1 - 4 September 2017 Alli was caught on camera raising his middle finger in what appeared to be the direction of the referee, though the midfielder was not punished at the time. He has since claimed it was aimed at Kyle Walker. Rex Features 16/19 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 - 1 November 2017 Dele Alli returned from a three-game European ban to score twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley AFP/Getty Images 17/19 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 - 1 April 2018 Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham recorded their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 28 years. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 18/19 Sweden 0 England 2 July 7 2018 Dele Alli scores in England's 2-0 win as they reached the World Cup semi-finals. AP 19/19 Tottenham 2 Watford 2 September 26 2018 Dele Alli scores on his return to Stadium MK, with Spurs forced to play their League Cup game their due to delays with their new stadium. David Rogers/Getty Images 1/19 The defining games of Dele Alli's career Steve Bardens/Getty Images 2/19 MK Dons 4 Man United 0 - 26 August 2014 The then 18-year-old prospect produced an inspired display to dominate Louis van Gaal's side in the second round of the Capital One Cup.



Alli's secret was out; everyone sat up and took notice. Getty Images 3/19 Leicester 1 Tottenham 1 - 22 August 2015 Alli was not expected to feature regularly for Spurs during his debut season at the club but immediately proved his worth with a late header to salvage a point against Claudio Ranieri's side. Getty Images 4/19 Sunderland 0 Tottenham 1 - 13 September 2015 Ryan Mason grabbed the headlines, courtesy of a late winner, but Alli's first Premier League start highlighted the impression he had made on Mauricio Pochettino over a short period of time in the early stages of the season.



He didn't look back. Getty Images 5/19 England 2 France 0 - 17 November 2015 Alli marked his first senior international start with a superb long-range strike, albeit via a slight deflection on an emotional night at Wembley in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. Getty Images 6/19 Crystal Palace 1 Tottenham 3 - 23 January 2016 Tottenham had their backs to the wall as the closing stages approached at Selhurst Park but Alli came up with a strike of enormous quality to drag his side over the line.



The goal of the season effort had timing, technique and audaciousness all rolled into one.



This was surely the moment any remaining doubters were silenced. Getty Images 7/19 Fiorentina 1 Tottenham 1 - 18 February 2016 Alli's fiery streak threatened to boil over in Florence after a petulant kick out at Nenad Tomovic.



The 19-year-old avoided a red card and went on to produce an impressive display.



The midfielder was defiant after the game and insisted he didn't want to tame his "aggressive streak." Getty Images 8/19 Germany 2 England 3 - 26 March 2016 Comparisons with Bryan Robson dominated the pre-match build up and Alli delivered with a magnificent display in Berlin as the Three Lions staged a late fightback to beat the old enemy.



Alli ran the show against the World Champions' midfield, which included Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, to cement his place in the starting XI. Getty Images 9/19 Stoke 0 Tottenham 4 - 18 April 2016 Alli was an integral figure as Spurs tore Mark Hughes's side apart to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the Premier League table.



Alli scored the first brace of his Tottenham career and really should have been celebrated a hat-trick, only to spurn a glorious late opportunity. AFP/Getty Images 10/19 Tottenham 1 West Brom 1 - 25 April 2016 Alli collected his PFA Player of the Year award prior to kick off but it turned out to be a sour occasion for Spurs.



Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered two vital points - which dealt their title ambitions a huge blow - and Alli was involved in a scuffle with Claudio Yacob.



Alli was retrospectively banned for violent conduct, bringing his debut season in the top flight to a premature end. AFP/Getty Images 11/19 Tottenham 2 Manchester City 0 - 2 October 2016 Alli helped inspire Spurs towards an important victory over Pep Guardiola's men, ending City's unbeaten record and confirming that they north Londoners will be title contenders again this term.



Alli - like Spurs - does not appear to be going anywhere. Getty Images 12/19 Tottenham 5 Swansea 0 - 3 December 2016 Alli wouldn’t find the net in this one, but the England international received widespread criticism for an apparent dive in the first half, that set Spurs on their way to a romping victory. Getty Images 13/19 Tottenham 2 Chelsea 0 - 5 January 2017 His brace at the Lane ended Chelsea’s 13-match winning run as Alli set a new Premier League record, becoming the first midfielder to score two goals in three consecutive matches (Southampton, Watford, Chelsea). Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 14/19 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0 - 30 April 2017 Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the second successive season, Alli scored in the final north London derby to be staged at White Hart Lane. AFP/Getty Images 15/19 England 2 Slovakia 1 - 4 September 2017 Alli was caught on camera raising his middle finger in what appeared to be the direction of the referee, though the midfielder was not punished at the time. He has since claimed it was aimed at Kyle Walker. Rex Features 16/19 Tottenham 3 Real Madrid 1 - 1 November 2017 Dele Alli returned from a three-game European ban to score twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley AFP/Getty Images 17/19 Chelsea 1 Tottenham 3 - 1 April 2018 Dele Alli scored twice as Tottenham recorded their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 28 years. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 18/19 Sweden 0 England 2 July 7 2018 Dele Alli scores in England's 2-0 win as they reached the World Cup semi-finals. AP 19/19 Tottenham 2 Watford 2 September 26 2018 Dele Alli scores on his return to Stadium MK, with Spurs forced to play their League Cup game their due to delays with their new stadium. David Rogers/Getty Images

After a career at MK Dons starting in 2012, he signed with Tottenham in 2015 and has been named young player of the year by the Professional Footballers’ Association twice.

Dele refused to speak about his parents, including father Kehinde, 47, a businessman originally from Nigeria who now lives in Texas, saying his family situation is “all a bit complicated”. He plays only with the name “Dele” on his shirt as he feels “no connection” to the surname, saying simply: “It was a decision that had to be made.”

He discussed his troubled childhood more frankly, however. In the interview with ES Magazine, he said: “I got into the wrong crowd from an early age. Football was a great distraction from the path I was heading down. I’m very lucky to have met people who helped through the hardest of times and have helped me grow into the person I am today.” He added: “There’s a lot that people don’t know about me, but a lot of people seem to think they know about me ... I’ve learned not to take anything for granted. I get to have football as a job. But you have to fight for things in life.”

"I always played with no fear. When I played as a kid, it was always with the older boys" Dele Alli

Expectations surrounding Dele will be high at the tournament in Russia - an indication of how quickly he has progressed from learning his trade on a small square of concrete outside his estate.

“There was a car park where I used to go and play with my friends using bikes for goalposts,” he said. “I think you can see that in my game. I used to watch YouTube tricks and then try them out.

“I always played with no fear. When I played as a kid, it was always with the older boys. It wasn’t unusual for me to be coming up against men.”

He added: “I’m over the moon to be selected for the World Cup squad. It’s what you dream of as a kid. We’ve got a great manager and an ambitious young squad. I’m confident we can have a successful tournament.

Full Interview Read the full interview in ES Magazine - free every Thursday and Friday

“A couple of years ago, I didn’t have an England cap, and now for people to comment when I don’t play can only be a good thing.”

Dele, who will be cheered on in Russia by his girlfriend, the model Ruby Mae, below, also defended himself against accusations of diving, including from Gary Lineker.

“Some people reckon it’s cheating, some people don’t. What matters is what the people around me think. They know I’m not a cheat.”