Alli celebrates 22nd birthday with commendable version of 'Backpack Kid' dance

Tottenham star Dele Alli turning 22 on Wednesday and celebrated by having a respectable crack at the notoriously difficult 'Backpack Kid' dance in the changing room.

The England international was put on the spot by his team-mate Serge Aurier, but he thrived under the pressure by performing a version of the dance craze that took the world by storm last year.

It involves completing a series of coordinated arm swings and then rapidly increasing the speed to give the illusion that the video has been sped up. Alli was able to keep it up for several seconds before losing his rhythm.

The dance became a worldwide sensation after a young boy introduced it on Saturday Night Live during a live performance from Katy Perry. Although the hype has since quelled, it evidently remains front of mind at Tottenham's training ground.

Alli's 22nd birthday not only served as an excuse to bust a move, but also as a timely reminder of how much he has achieved in such a short space of time. Indeed, it is rare for someone so young to establish themselves as a Premier League household name.

With 36 goals and 26 assists (62 in total) in England's top flight, he has already contributed much more than the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and David Beckham had done at the same age.

In fact, only five players in Premier League history have managed to score and assist more goals before the age of 22. Robbie Fowler, with 82 goals and 15 assists (97), is top of the charts.

Michael Owen (94), Wayne Rooney (90), Chris Sutton (68) and Cesc Fabregas (63) make up the other four players above him.

It is notable that Alli is the only midfielder in this top six. The closest comparable player is Ryan Giggs, who managed 28 goals and 26 (54) assists for Manchester United before turning 22.