There's a light at the end of the tunnel for Oliver Skipp when it comes to his awkward pelvic problem.
Injuries or ailments are always frustrating for footballers but the 21-year-old's issue is perhaps worse because it's in a rather sensitive part of the body. The problem for the Spurs midfielder has come with his pubis symphysis, a joint in the pelvic area. It's been a painful one and it's through no fault of his own, just something that can occur through a heavy workload.
That has certainly come in the past 18 months or so. Last season, the then 20-year-old Skipp started 34 of Norwich's 36 matches as a vital part of their Championship title-winning side and he played almost every minute for them.
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It was his first season as an ever-present professional in the first team game and then he returned to Spurs, having developed in leaps and bounds, and both Nuno Espirito Santo and then Antonio Conte used him extensively, both realising how important he was becoming to the team with his energy and box-to-box ability.
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 his problem has been rest and that has been the most frustrating thing for him and for Conte.
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.
Now after two months, Skipp is getting there. football.london reported on Thursday that he was now training outdoors on his own with sports science staff and the situation was improving. The expectation is that he should be back in action within a fortnight, perhaps in time for the Brighton match this month.
Conte confirmed the positive news on Friday at his press conference with the news that he hoped both Skipp and Ryan Sessegnon would be back training with the group next week.
"Good news for Oliver, for Skippy and Sessegnon. They are very, very close to being back with the team," he said.
"They're improving a lot. They're having important training sessions. Not with the team, apart, but I hope next week to have both players with the team."
It's expected to be a one-two for Skipp as a bumper new deal with Spurs is set to be tied up soon.
For a youngster labelled as a future Tottenham captain by Jose Mourinho and someone Conte calls an 'important player' who can go to the very top, the path ahead for Skipp is a very brightly lit one if he can steer clear of further injury frustrations.
In the interests of full disclosure, I've got a soft spot for Skippy, as he's known by his team-mates, because he started to emerge as an academy star soon after I started reporting on Spurs.
As my job has allowed me to cover, certainly pre-pandemic, a large number of U23 and U18 games as well as U19 UEFA Youth League matches - during Spurs' Champions League years - I saw a lot of Skipp as a young player in the academy and I've been fortunate enough to watch him develop.
You could tell from the off that he was a cut above, dominating the midfield at times as a 16-year-old against much older opponents.
He was also very down to earth off the pitch in a sport when some young players can quickly believe their own hype before they've even played a senior game thanks to the money being splashed around on them.
I remember watching Skipp from the press area after a UEFA Youth League game in Dortmund coming out of the changing rooms and while heading to the team coach he broke away from the line of players.
It was because he had spotted a kit lady struggling with a few big bags. He went over and helped her take them across to her destination. It was a very small thing within the larger picture but it showed his character and why if anyone stands a chance of making it to the top, it's the hard-working, focused Skippy.
He's developing on the pitch and off it, bulking up a lot as well as growing as a character. I managed to bag the first long 'sit down' interview with the young midfielder back when he initially broke into Mauricio Pochettino's squad after an impressive pre-season tour in the USA and I've also interviewed him since.
On the early occasions he was a nervous teenager, uttering just a few quick rushed sentences to answer questions and worried about saying the wrong thing. Nowadays, he's more confident within himself and also about his standing within the group. He might be young, but he's not scared to make himself heard.
When he returns this month it's going to be fascinating to watch the midfield competition unfold. Rodrigo Bentancur has quickly settled in at Spurs and looks a great addition to the team. In turn, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg looks back on form again alongside the Uruguayan.
Skipp will keep them both on their toes because the moment their form drops, Conte will quickly want to throw him into a game to up the tempo.
The young midfielder's best trait is that he can quickly break up an opposition attack and get Spurs moving in the opposite direction by getting the ball to the attacking players. It's an ability that fits perfectly with Conte's requirements.
Then there's Harry Winks, who is likely to be fourth choice in the centre of the pitch with Skipp's return and Bentancur's arrival. That might see him heading off in the summer for more regular football, meaning another arrival in the midfield.
For Skipp, he will only care about getting back amongst his team-mates and then on to the pitch. The fans have quickly taken to the young midfielder and he's got the potential to give them another one of their own to be proud of.
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