“I was a late developer,” Lallana says. “While Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott had the 'X-factor’ I was just gradually improving. I did not play my first full season until I was 21. I was professional but not to the point I should have been in terms of how I ate or how committed I was when I was younger. You have to be 100 per cent committed and professional from the youngest age or you won’t cope. My first season in League One under Alan Pardew was a big year for me. It was a good thing for me to have two seasons in League One and grow. When we got to the Championship I was ready. By 24 and the Premier League I was captain and then Pochettino came and that’s where I stepped up. I had a great time under him. I still speak to him weekly. We speak as friends rather than about football. He is a good man and I got really close to him. There is a respect there. He was a big reason why I’m here because of what I learnt from him. I always knew he would do well at Spurs. I’m really happy for him.”