Antonio Conte states Oliver Skipp is ‘absolutely not’ out for the rest of the season after the Tottenham Hotspur star suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, via football.london.
The midfielder has now missed Spurs’ last 10 Premier League matches after developing an infection in a groin injury in February. He had become a key part at the north London side earlier in the campaign, having started 14 of 18 appearances over their opening 20 games.
Skipp had begun to train individually on the grass pitches at Hotspur Way earlier this week. But the Evening Standard noted on Wednesday that he had reported soreness in his pelvis. The setback will see the 21-year-old return to training inside and faces an uncertain return.
The arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus in the January transfer window has helped limit the impact of Skipp’s absence. But Conte still longs to welcome the England Under-21 talent back into his plans. Of Skipp’s 18 games so far this term, eight came with the Italian.
Antonio Conte states Tottenham star Oliver Skipp ‘absolutely not’ out for season
Skipp suffering a setback in his recovery from injury sparked fears Conte would be without the Tottenham star for the rest of the season. The Spurs boss is already without Japhet Tanganga until next term, after the club determined he required surgery on a knee injury.
Conte remains hopeful that the same fate will not befall Skipp and that he will have a part to play in Tottenham’s push for the Champions League positions. Spurs visit Aston Villa on Saturday evening with the chance to solidify their place in fourth held on goal difference.
“Absolutely not,” Conte stated on Skipp’s season being over. “We have to recover him for this season. This has to be the target. It is totally different to the Tanganga situation. Japh had an injury in his knee and his season was out. But, for Skipp, no.
“It is important for the player to feel this possibility to recover, also because we need him and we trust him. I am really sorry because he doesn’t deserve to have this type of injury.”
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