Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has revealed that while both Ryan Sessegnon and Sergio Reguilon are fit again for the weekend’s trip to Aston Villa, midfielder Oliver Skipp remains sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Spurs have put together a good run of form in recent weeks that has seen them leapfrog north London rivals Arsenal into 4th place in the Premier League, although they have played a game more than the Gunners so far.
And despite Conte suggesting that his side needed a ‘miracle’ to finish 4th, they will know that should they beat the Gunners in the rescheduled north London Derby on May 12th, they will be in with a real chance of claiming the spot, and a place in the Champions League once again.
The Lilywhites need to keep alive their recent upturn in form, though, and face a tricky trip to Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa, themselves on a three game losing streak, at the weekend.
And though Spurs will be bolstered by the return of options at left wing-back, where Matt Doherty deputized last weekend, Skipp’s absence still looms.
‘No new injuries’, Conte confirmed to the press, before adding ‘too good news because Ryan Sessegnon and Sergio Reguilon they had the training session with us. About Oliver Skipp, we have to wait. He’s not ready, he’s still not ready and we need to have patience with him and sort this problem.’
Conte: “No new injuries, two good news because Ryan Sessegnon and Sergio Reguilon they had the training session with us. About Oliver Skipp, we have to wait. He’s not ready, he’s still not ready and we need to have patience with him and sort this problem.” https://t.co/PQOTVEM9hr
β Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) April 7, 2022
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Skipp out for the season?
Despite speculation suggesting otherwise, Conte pushed back against the idea that Skipp may be forced to miss the rest of the season with the injury that he picked up in January. The 21-year-old midfielder was forced off during Tottenham’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea, and has not featured since.
Asked Conte if Skipp needs the rest of the season to heal: “Absolutely not. We have to recover him for this season, this has to be the target. It is important for the player to feel this possibility to recover, also because we need him and we trust him.” https://t.co/PQOTVEM9hr
β Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) April 7, 2022
‘Absolutely not [out for the season]’, the Italian replied. ‘We have to recover him for this season, this has to be the target. It is important for the player to feel this possibility to recover, also because we need him and we trust him’.
Should Tottenham continue to perform as they have done of late, though, Skipp may find it hard to win back his place in Antonio Conte’s side.