First game, a fine header - the match-winner, a new celebration.

All good. Dele Alli started 2018-19 as he had mentally sketched it, exiting St James’ Park on 11 August having been pivotal to Tottenham’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Newcastle.

Fast forward a month, and when Spurs hosted the League Cup fixture against Watford in Milton Keynes on account of their stadium setbacks, the midfielder wasn’t enacting the perfect script upon returning to his hometown, but more bending the encounter to his will.

Dele was given the captain’s armband and a warm, local-boy-made-good reception on the ground that groomed his talents, scoring twice from the penalty spot, including the decisive strike in the shootout.

“He was inspired by the occasion,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said post-match. “He was so excited beforehand, his energy was amazing. For him it was an experience that he will remember for all of his life - to be Tottenham captain and score two goals!

“Being a captain means a lot – it’s not just about wearing the armband. Dele spoke from the heart in his team-talk and I like that. I can’t tell you what he said but he was very good.

“I think he did very well. He is more mature and has more experience. When you are young, you do some crazy things, but he has grown up.

“He is one of the best in England and one of the best in Europe in his position.”

Things, however, were not idyllic for Dele in-between those fixtures and, since the 4-2 triumph over Watford on penalties, his situation has been fettering.

On September 8, the MK Dons graduate sustained a hamstring strain during England's Nations League loss against Spain at Wembley, which ruled him out for Tottenham’s defeats to both Liverpool and Inter Milan.

Dele returned as a substitute at Brighton, before owning the spotlight against Watford, but he aggravated the muscle problem and has been sidelined since.

He has missed five matches for Spurs - including the 4-2 Champions League disappointment at home to Barcelona and the careless 2-2 draw away to PSV - as well as the Nations League stalemate in Croatia and the acclaimed 3-2 victory in the same competition over Spain in Seville.

During Dele's absence - he could be in contention for Monday night’s blockbuster top-flight tussle against Manchester City - there has been plenty of noise about the security of his spot for both club and country.

‘Dele Alli debate: does Tottenham star deserve England place?’ read one headline, while former Spurs forward Garth Crooks warned that he “had better be careful – [Erik] Lamela is very capable of taking his place.”

Similar discussions have been amplified on social media, but Dele refuses to be distracted by the external chatter. “The biggest learning curves and points of development for a player is when things don’t go well,” he tells JOE.

“How you react to those times will help shape you, not just as a player but as a person as well. “The great thing about social media is that everyone can have an opinion, but it doesn’t mean you have to take in all the opinions.

“You place importance on the opinions that matter most and those are of the people who are working with you to reach the next level, or those who have been there through your journey and don’t just make judgements off your stats or a performance here or there.

“I’ve never paid much attention to pressure or doubt, because I think to make it at the top, you have to have a lot of self-confidence.

“If you’re shy and not sure of yourself, you won’t be able to show what you’re capable of and you can get found out very quickly.

“I came into the Premier League extremely determined to succeed and that hasn’t changed.

“I’m still hungry and still wanting to be the very best player I can be. I’m never really content. If I score one in a game, I want to score two in the next.

“I always want more, always want to achieve more so I never really stop and think ‘oh, I’ve done this.’

“I could score six goals in the next six games and there will still be some people who will have something bad to say.”