Mauricio Pochettino is keen for Dele Alli to "feel free on the pitch" so he can develop into Tottenham's version of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

The 19-year-old has made a superb start to his Premier League career and has scored five goals in 18 top-flight appearances to help Spurs climb into the top four.

The former MK Dons midfielder's displays have been rewarded with a new five-year contract on improved terms and he is now regarded as key member of Pochettino's side.

Alli has played in several roles for the north Londoners this term but his manager is reluctant to pidgeon hole the England international into one position and is eager to develop the youngster's versatility.

"Football is about being versatile. We need to help a player like Dele Alli improve, not put him in a box," he told the Mirror.

"He needs to feel free on the pitch and we need to help him improve in different positions because a versatile player like [Paul] Pogba has a big, big value."

Pogba left Manchester United on a free transfer in 2012 at the same age Alli is now but has gone on to establish himself as one of the most promising players in world football.

The Frenchman features in numerous positions for the Serie A side and Pochettino is adamant Pogba's talent can be attributed to his ability to read the game, which is a trait he wants Alli to improve upon.

"He's a special player. He is box-to-box but has real skill on the ball.

In Focus: Dele Alli 5 show all In Focus: Dele Alli 1/5 Personality: 4/5 Making a jump from League One to the Premier League would intimidate many players. Not Alli, who has made it clear he feels he belongs at this level. In his first top-flight start — a 1-0 win at Sunderland in September — Alli produced a display brimming with confidence. “He has a very poorly developed sense of fear,” his former manager at Milton Keynes Dons, Karl Robinson, told Standard Sport. Tottenham are trying to protect Alli from excessive media exposure but when he does speak, he is unruffled and thoughtful. He has integrated well in the dressing room, where he is particularly close to Eric Dier, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane. 2/5 Technique: 4/5 It is hard to see a weakness in Alli’s game here. He is naturally right-footed but his left side is strong, too. His vision is excellent, his control superb. It is usually rare for a player to score one goal per season of the quality of Alli’s against Everton — when he controlled Toby Alderweireld’s long pass to volley past keeper Tim Howard, not to mention his wonder goal against Crystal Palace. One note of caution: Alli can sometimes try one trick too many in his own half, which is perhaps why he is used more regularly in the No10 position at the moment. 2016 Getty Images 3/5 Eye for goal: 5/5 Alli can play as a deep-lying midfielder or just behind a lone forward but he has the instinct of an experienced striker. He has seven goals for club and country this season and most of them have been spectacular. Yet it all comes naturally, as Alli explained after he struck in that victory over Villa. “I judged the ball, judged the play,” he said. “It was natural instinct that the ball was going to drop at the edge of the box, so I delayed my run a bit and luckily it did.” Thanks to that talent, he was in the perfect place to collect Alderweireld’s passes for the goals against West Brom and Everton. 4/5 Versatility: 4/5 It is difficult enough to master a single position in your first season in top-level football. Alli has managed two. “I believe his best position will be as an ‘eight’ [the more attacking of the two central midfielders in the 4-2-3-1 system] but he is a throwback to the type of midfielder who can attack and defend,” Robinson says. Playing in that No8 role, he dominated midfield along with Dier in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal in November and scored a spectacular goal for England against France. As a No10, he combines effectively with Kane, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, as well as Son. 2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc 5/5 Prospects: 5/5 Alli has been compared with Steven Gerrard and he has the potential to emulate the achievements of the former Liverpool captain. If he has enough fuel in the tank, he is a possible star of this summer’s European Championships. “When he was 17, I said he would play for England,” Robinson recalls. “He is talented and fearless but also very humble and grounded. He needs the time and space to grow, mature and become a top player.” Alli is also as ferocious as he is skilful, squaring up to Mark Noble in November after the West Ham midfielder made a late challenge on Kane. His value is already above £30 million and if Tottenham do not progress at the same rate, they may find it difficult to keep Alli in the long term. 1/5 Personality: 4/5 Making a jump from League One to the Premier League would intimidate many players. Not Alli, who has made it clear he feels he belongs at this level. In his first top-flight start — a 1-0 win at Sunderland in September — Alli produced a display brimming with confidence. “He has a very poorly developed sense of fear,” his former manager at Milton Keynes Dons, Karl Robinson, told Standard Sport. Tottenham are trying to protect Alli from excessive media exposure but when he does speak, he is unruffled and thoughtful. He has integrated well in the dressing room, where he is particularly close to Eric Dier, Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane. 2/5 Technique: 4/5 It is hard to see a weakness in Alli’s game here. He is naturally right-footed but his left side is strong, too. His vision is excellent, his control superb. It is usually rare for a player to score one goal per season of the quality of Alli’s against Everton — when he controlled Toby Alderweireld’s long pass to volley past keeper Tim Howard, not to mention his wonder goal against Crystal Palace. One note of caution: Alli can sometimes try one trick too many in his own half, which is perhaps why he is used more regularly in the No10 position at the moment. 2016 Getty Images 3/5 Eye for goal: 5/5 Alli can play as a deep-lying midfielder or just behind a lone forward but he has the instinct of an experienced striker. He has seven goals for club and country this season and most of them have been spectacular. Yet it all comes naturally, as Alli explained after he struck in that victory over Villa. “I judged the ball, judged the play,” he said. “It was natural instinct that the ball was going to drop at the edge of the box, so I delayed my run a bit and luckily it did.” Thanks to that talent, he was in the perfect place to collect Alderweireld’s passes for the goals against West Brom and Everton. 4/5 Versatility: 4/5 It is difficult enough to master a single position in your first season in top-level football. Alli has managed two. “I believe his best position will be as an ‘eight’ [the more attacking of the two central midfielders in the 4-2-3-1 system] but he is a throwback to the type of midfielder who can attack and defend,” Robinson says. Playing in that No8 role, he dominated midfield along with Dier in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal in November and scored a spectacular goal for England against France. As a No10, he combines effectively with Kane, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, as well as Son. 2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc 5/5 Prospects: 5/5 Alli has been compared with Steven Gerrard and he has the potential to emulate the achievements of the former Liverpool captain. If he has enough fuel in the tank, he is a possible star of this summer’s European Championships. “When he was 17, I said he would play for England,” Robinson recalls. “He is talented and fearless but also very humble and grounded. He needs the time and space to grow, mature and become a top player.” Alli is also as ferocious as he is skilful, squaring up to Mark Noble in November after the West Ham midfielder made a late challenge on Kane. His value is already above £30 million and if Tottenham do not progress at the same rate, they may find it difficult to keep Alli in the long term.

"When he plays like a No.10 he makes the movement like a striker and when he plays No.8 or No.6 he plays like a holding midfielder.

"He's very clever and that's his best quality. It's not because he runs a lot, it's how he reads the game," Pochettino insisted.