Tottenham news: Antonio Conte has just pulled ‘massive’ Oliver Skipp U-turn – expert
Antonio Conte’s attitude towards Oliver Skipp’s injury has changed dramatically now that Tottenham have hit a purple patch.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Skipp, 21, was by now expected to have returned from a groin issue that has seen him sidelined since January.
Conte publicly called on his medical department to explain the midfielder’s longer-than-expected absence on 4 March, as relayed by The Guardian.
But as quoted by BBC Sport, the Italian manager emphasised last Thursday (7 April): “We need to have patience with him and sort this problem.”
Spurs are now in the driving seat in the race for the final spot in the top four after scoring 15 times in four successive wins.
Dinnery noted how Conte’s change in perspective has coincided with his side’s “massive” upturn in form.
“A few wins on the board makes a massive difference,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“This year, they have scored the most goals and have the highest xG. It does you the world of good. Now, everyone is wearing their rose-tinted glasses.
“When things are going like this and they have backup in his position, there’s absolutely no need to rush Skipp back.
“They have Hojbjerg and Bentancur, they look like they have those midfield places sealed.
“We are looking week to week with Skipp. He needs plenty of time on the training pitches. All of those pressures, at the moment, have been removed.”
Skipp has turned out 28 times for Spurs this season.
Conte’s side take on Brighton on Saturday (16 April).
In other news, Villarreal opening talks with Tottenham to sign Giovani Lo Celso as swap deal on the cards