VIDEO: Dele Alli intends to keep 'aggressive streak' after apparent kick out

Dele Alli has vowed to retain his "aggressive streak" after he appeared to kick out at Fiorentina defender Nenad Tomovic in Thursday's Europa League action.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has forced his way into international reckoning in his breakout season, but the incident follows a needless yellow after overreacting in a skirmish with West Ham United's Mark Noble in November.

"My personality is that I like to express myself and that is not something I will look to change," 19-year-old Alli said.

"Do you need an aggressive streak to thrive? You could say that. A lot of the great players have that mentality. I want to be the best I can and if that's what I need to do it, that's what I do."

As for the squabble with Tomovic, ex-Milton Keynes Dons man Alli insists he didn't leave a foot in on the Serbian on purpose and things were sorted out between the pair.

"It was not deliberate. I would never do that," he claimed. "Football always gets a bit heated but we shook hands and that's fine.

"I told him what happened, he said it was okay and we moved on. I explained it to him and we leave it behind now. Coming from League One, a lot of tackles go in and that is where I've learned my trade."

His manager Mauricio Pochettino said he'll talk to Alli ahead of Crystal Palace's visit Sunday in the FA Cup fifth round.

"We need to look at the video and try to teach him," Pochettino said. "He is a young player and he has a lot to learn about elite football. It his first season in the Premier League at Tottenham."