Alex Neil is not ruling out a swoop for lower league gems like Tottenham prodigy Dele Alli in the January transfer window.

The Norwich City chief believes there is talent operating down the pyramid - like the precocious teenager who has forced his way in the England set-up after a stunning impact since his £5m move from MK Dons.

'You always look lower down the leagues. That is never something you would disregard,' said Neil. 'You will always get players like Dele Alli, who has done really well at Tottenham this season, so there are certainly players to be had and found at that level.

'I don't think there is a huge amount who you can take and put them straight into your first team and they are going to be ready at this point.

'The problem we have is we need guys to be ready to go straight in and do a job. We are not in a fortunate position where we can have guys who come in and they have a year learning their trade to show their goods.'

Jamie Vardy is another who came through the non league route to flourish in the top flight. Vardy will set a new Premier League goalscoring record today if he can score in his 11th consecutive league game.

'Over the last number of years he has gradually done well and what he has managed to achieve in the last 10 games is sensational,' said Neil. 'I know Ruud van Nistelrooy also did it but he was in a team who were dominant in that era. No disrespect to Leicester but they are not one of the so-called bigger teams.'

Vardy's goals have fired the Foxes top, but Neil believes it will be difficult to maintain their unlikely title push.

'They are there on merit. Whether they can maintain that over the course of the season becomes tough because of the resources they have in comparison to the other teams,' he said.