Pundit hails ‘brilliant news’ for Conte after Tottenham update
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte will seek comfort in the potential returns of Heung-min Son and Cristian Romero for any rearranged north London derby, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, said the stricken pair could “make the difference” in the crunch clash.
The meeting between the two sides had been scheduled for 16 January but was postponed by the Premier League due to unavailability in the Arsenal squad.
Conte confirmed to club media yesterday (18 January) that Romero could be available “after the international break”, while Son remains sidelined with a muscular problem.
Whelan claimed the potential returns of the star duo will allow both sides to provide a better spectacle in a crucial derby game.
“Those players coming back, it’s brilliant news for Conte,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“I think as a manager, he will have wanted to take advantage of any absences that Arsenal may have had.
“They’ll be disappointed, but it does give them the opportunity to bring back their stronger and better players. That could help them win the rearranged game.
“Son and Romero are players who can make the difference, as well.
“When you watch a derby match you always want to have the best players on the pitch. Now both sides have got the opportunity to do that.”
Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners when the two sides met earlier this season.
Tottenham sit just six points behind their bitter rivals with two Premier League games in hand.
Spurs are yet to taste defeat in the league since the arrival of Antonio Conte in early November.
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