Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte is hoping Oliver Skipp will come back sharper from international duty, according to The Athletic.
The English midfielder often started alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg under Conte but has fallen down the pecking order this season.(Photo: Getty Images)
Skipp has not started a game under Conte since January due to being ruled out for the remainder of the last campaign from February.
The 22-year-old was apparently in the top two fittest players in the entire Spurs squad during pre-season. But suffered another setback as he was sidelined for the beginning of the current season with a foot injury and has yet to play a single minute despite being named amongst the substitutes for Spurs’ last three Premier League games.
Speaking after the 6-2 victory over Leicester City, Conte said: “When we start to play after the international break 12 games in a row, for sure I will make rotation.
“The only thing I ask of my players is to give me the possibility and don’t drop the level when we make this rotation. We always want a strong team because we want to fight for every competition.”
According to The Athletic, Conte is hoping he can return to match fitness while playing for England’s U21 side during the international break.
Conte hopes Skipp will be sharpened up by game time for England’s youth side. (Photo: Getty Images)
Recently described by Conte as an ‘important’ player in his side and with a packed schedule coming up in October, the youngster could get his opportunity in the coming weeks.
A gruelling fixture list after the international break will test Tottenham’s squad depth and they were without Ben Davies on Saturday after he sustained an injury to his knee, which will rule him out of Wales commitments next week.
Conte hopes for no further injuries, adding: “We are 17 points after seven games. I think it was a really good start.
“Now there is the international break. Fingers cross I hope for no more injuries because October we have 12 games in a row. Difficult games because we are talking Premier League, Champions League, Premier League, Champions League.”
Spurs are level on points with Manchester City after seven Premier League matches and remain unbeaten in the division.