Antonio Conte made it very clear to football.london on Thursday that he is not contemplating Oliver Skipp resting his pelvic problem for the remainder of Tottenham's season.
The 21-year-old Spurs midfielder has been out of action for two months now with the problem with his pubis symphysis, a joint in the pelvic area. It's been a painful issue and an ailment that can occur through a heavy workload. In all Skipp has played 85 matches so far in just two seasons - 75 for his two clubs and 10 for the England U21s. That's a lot for a young midfielder whose only regular football previously had been a couple of years before at academy level against fellow youngsters.
The only real cure for Skipp's problem is rest, but every time he felt like he was getting somewhere, there would be a setback, including an infection, and he would feel pain again, bringing more frustrated comments from Conte in his press conferences, mostly at the expense of the medical department.
READ MORE: Every word Antonio Conte said about Oliver Skipp's problem, Sessegnon, Lo Celso and Kane target
There seemed to be good news during the international break with Skipp pain-free and training outside with sports science staff, with Conte expecting the player, along with Ryan Sessegnon, who has been out with a hamstring injury, to join back in with the group this week.
However, a further setback arrived in recent days with the midfielder feeling pain during sessions and Conte said on Thursday that "about Olly Skipp, we have to wait. He's not ready. He's still not ready and we need to have patience with him to try to solve his problem".
However, when football.london asked whether there was a temptation to allow Skipp to rest until pre-season to allow the problem to fully heal, Conte made it very clear that that could not be the solution.
"No, no, no, absolutely not, we have to recover him for this season. Full stop. This must be our target, for the medical department, for the player," he said.
"It's totally different from Tanganga's situation. Japhet had a knee injury and was out for the season, but Skipp, no. It's important for the player to feel this possibility and there is this possibility to recover this season.
"Also we need him and we trust him He's a really good guy. I'm really sorry for him because he doesn't deserve this type of injury, but I repeat he has to recover this season and I push the medical department to recover him this season because we need him."
