Antonio Conte has hinted that Djed Spence will not be considered for selection ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Newcastle United on Sunday.
Conte’s side welcome the Magpies to North London this weekend and the Italian manager has a dilemma.
With Emerson Royal available again after suspension and Matt Doherty playing reasonably well, the Tottenham boss must decide who plays at right wing-back.
Of course, the Lilywhites also have another option in the form of Spence, a £19 million summer signing from Middlesbrough [ESPN], but Conte has suggested that he’s still ‘waiting’ on the 22-year-old to improve and therefore isn’t in the conversation just yet.
He told Football London: “To have the possibility to have an alternative, to play Emerson or Doherty, or also I’m waiting to improve Spence. For me it’s important.”
Spence has only managed a few minutes in the Premier League this season, spread across three stoppage-time appearances.
Conte even revealed this week that he wasn’t the one behind his arrival, labelling him a ‘club signing’ in what was a pretty damning revelation.
The former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach is obviously going to favour the use of players who he actually wanted in North London.
And considering Spence wasn’t one of them, well the former Boro right-back might be waiting a while, regardless of how much he improves in that time.
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