Oliver Skipp injury update as Antonio Conte's Tottenham midfield options take shape for season

Oliver Skipp is hoping to begin outdoor work as part of his injury recovery later this week, understands.

The 21-year-old suffered a freak impact injury after jumping for an aerial challenge with a team-mate on the training pitches at Hotspur Way the day before the friendly against Rangers last month. The other Spurs player landed awkwardly on Skipp as the pair fell back down, leaving the England U21 midfielder with a deep cut in his foot from the stud impact and a hairline fracture in his heel.

The cut, which required a large number of stitches, was so gruesome that many of the surrounding Tottenham players had to look away when they saw the resulting injury. The young midfielder had been wearing a protective boot during his recovery but is now hoping to begin light work out on the grass by the end of this week as he continues his recovery.

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The tiny fracture was always expected to heal quickly but the accidental injury is particularly unfortunate for the midfielder because he had fully recovered from a pelvic problem suffered last season that required minor surgery and had been impressing the Spurs coaching staff with his fitness levels during Antonio Conte's gruelling pre-season.

The Italian has a lot of belief in the central midfielder, telling last season that Skipp has the potential to become an important player for the future but had already become one for him. The Spurs academy product was handed a new bumper five-year contract in April as a show of the club's plans for his long-term future and importance to the team.

Conte said on Friday ahead of the draw at Chelsea that Skipp would be available again in a "couple of