Gareth Southgate has offered assurances that Dele Alli remains key to his England plans after the Tottenham midfielder's hopes of a World Cup starting berth were dealt a blow on Tuesday.
Alli looked on as an unused substitute at Wembley as the Three Lions played out a 1-1 draw with Italy.
Following a shaky defensive showing in an opening to the game Manchester City centre-back John Stones will be keen to forget, England stylishly took control of the contest and led when Jamie Vardy lashed into the top corner after 26 minutes.
A rampaging Raheem Sterling and the quick-thinking Jesse Lingard were the architects of that goal and they, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain caused Italy numerous problems in the area behind the striker where Alli thrives at his best.