Dele Alli steps up recovery from hamstring injury as Tottenham midfielder begins ball work in Dubai Dele Alli has not played for Tottenham since injuring his hamstring on January 20 He began ball work during his warm weather training camp in Dubai this week Alli was expected to be out until March but could return ahead of schedule After training on Wednesday, Alli enjoyed some down-time as he visited a zoo By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail Published: 22:30 GMT, 6 February 2019 | Updated: 23:55 GMT, 6 February 2019 Viewcomments Dele Alli has taken a significant step towards fully recovering from a hamstring injury after starting ball work during his warm weather training camp in Dubai. The midfielder has handed Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino a key boost by completing football drills this week in the UAE. Alli suffered the injury against Fulham last month and it was initially feared he would not return to full training until the start of March. Spurs star Dele Alli began ball work during his warm weather training camp in Dubai this week Alli dribbled in between training poles and looked in good shape a fortnight after his last game But the fact that Alli is kicking a football again will raise hopes that the England international, who has scored seven goals this season, could come back sooner than expected. He will return to England in the next few days. With Harry Kane also injured, Tottenham are short of options up front. Son Heung-min has stepped up with some vital goals but Spurs are desperate for their forward duo to return as soon as possible. Alli arrived in Dubai on Monday with a specially-devised training schedule. He is accompanied in the Middle East by first-team physio Stephen McAleer and a fitness coach. Tottenham sent 22-year-old Alli to the Middle East along with two members of fitness staff Alli was expected to be out until March with a hamstring issue but he may return before then After training on Wednesday, Alli enjoyed some down-time in Dubai by visiting a local zoo. Alli documented the excursion with several posts on his Instagram story. He fed some exotic birds and tagged former Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker in a picture of a pelican. Alli also shared a picture of a lion. After training on Wednesday, Alli enjoyed some down-time in Dubai by visiting a local zoo Under the watchful eye of his host, Alli — dressed in summery attire — fed some exotic birds Alli was amused as he tagged former Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker in a picture of a pelican Football ace Alli shared a picture of a female lion, which was seen perched on a large rock Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility