"Understand...": Spurs dealt huge injury "setback" ahead of Bees, Conte will be fuming - opinion

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt yet another injury setback concerning midfielder Oliver Skipp.

In a recent post on Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas revealed that Antonio Conte and Spurs remain unaware of when the 21-year-old will make a return from injury, with the England U21 international believed to still be suffering from the after-effects of an infection around his hip and groin.

Thomas goes on to state that the defensive midfielder was expected to return to training at Hotspur Way earlier this month, however, the academy graduate suffered a setback in his recovery – with it now looking increasingly unlikely Skipp will feature again for Tottenham this season.

In his post, Thomas said: “Tottenham and Antonio Conte still in dark about when Oliver Skipp will be able to return. Understand he is still struggling with the after-effects of an infection in the pubis area of his hip and groin. Was close to returning earlier this month but suffered a setback.”

Considering that, upon Skipp sustaining his initial injury back in January, Conte stated his hope that the midfielder would be back playing first-team football within seven to ten days at most, the fact that the Italian remains without the 21-year-old nearly four months on is sure to have left him fuming.

Indeed, the £18m-rated youngster appeared to be a big part of Conte’s first-team plans following the manager’s arrival in north London last November – with the 52-year-old playing Skipp in all but one of the 14 fixtures in which the Englishman was available for selection.

And, with Tottenham being involved in an almighty scrap for a top-four finish over the remaining six games of their 2021/22 campaign, the continued absence of one of Spurs’ most promising