Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has admitted that Rodrigo Bentancur could be back in action against Everton on Monday.
Bentancur was forced off at half-time of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley after jarring his leg when he slipped on the wet pitch in the early exchanges.(Getty Images)
Bentancur has hit the ground running since his move to North London from Juventus on transfer deadline day in January.
The Uruguayan came off with an injury at half-time of Tottenham’s 1-0 loss at Turf Moor last week and was subsequently sent for a scan amid fears that he could miss up to three weeks of action.
However, Conte has provided a boost by revealing that the midfielder is recovering well from his ankle injury and is expected to be back in training following the club’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Middlesbrough.
Speaking to Spurs TV on Monday, Conte said: “Bentancur is improving, and I think after this game, he can come back with us.
With Spurs struggling with a lack of consistency from the midfield pairing, Conte is hoping to have Bentancur back for the match against relegation-threatened Everton.
“He’s hoping to have him(Bentancur) back for the Everton match.” Gold on the latest Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast.
Meanwhile, Conte also hopes to have Oliver Skipp back in training next week after the popular academy graduate suffered an infection while recovering from a groin injury suffered in January.
Alongside fellow new recruit from Juventus Dejan Kulusevski, Bentancur has settled well into life at Tottenham, while his likely return plus the impending comeback of Skipp will be a well-received boost to Conte’s midfield options, with the Italian having been left with only Harry Winks and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a central role.