It appears England may just have a star on their hands. Dele Alli has been outstanding playing for Tottenham Hotspur so far this season, and the 19-year-old further enhanced his reputation with an exceptional performance — which he capped off with a goal — in England’s 2-0 win over France.

The occasion was emotionally-charged after the recent tragedies in Paris, and Les Bleus seemed, understandably, sombre in their approach. Still, some of the young players on the England side of the fence obviously still had a mindset to impress, and that they did. Roy Hodgson cannot take too much away from the game as a more mentally focused France team would have posed a different obstacle altogether to his side. But the performance of Alli is one plus point the England boss can take away and feel excited about.

Alli is an emerging star in the Premier League this season, so his display against France was no one-off or solely due to a French team in disarray — it’s fast becoming the norm for the teenager. Spurs were desperate for an upgrade in the center of midfield going into this season, and Alli, whether Mauricio Pochettino expected it to be so soon or not, has provided it.

The midfielder only joined this year, but already he is an integral part of Pochettino’s starting lineup. Alli offers the rare ability to play as an all-around midfield player. He plays the defensive side of the game, has a great engine, can pass the ball well and also loves to break forward and aid the attack with goals and assists.

There can be gaps defensively when Alli makes his adventurous bursts forward, but that is why Eric Dier has been in the Spurs team, and now the England team — to try and cover up. Alli can make the difference when he breaks forward, too. It’s not just a preference of the player; he’s a genuine difference-maker. Alli showed that ability once again against France by notching his first international goal to give his team the lead.

It’s still early days, and it’s an all-too-familiar story, but England and Hodgson look like they have a star on their hands. Whether Alli actually goes on to fulfill his enormous potential is yet to be seen, but at this stage, the signs are extremely encouraging for everybody involved.