Skipp begins pre-season training early

Oliver Skipp has already begun his pre-season training ahead of the new season and the midfielder will join Japhet Tanganga and Matt Doherty in returning early to Tottenham next week, football.london understands.
All three players missed the final months of the season with their respective injuries and Spurs boss Antonio Conte and his sports science staff have determined that the trio will return to Hotspur Way on Monday to begin their differing levels of pre-season preparation.
Skipp suffered a pelvic injury in October last year which eventually forced him out of action from February onwards following an impressive breakthrough campaign in a Tottenham shirt. After a failed injection to stop the pain, the problem was finally fixed in April with a visit to a specialist in the USA, as minor surgery was undertaken followed by a period of recuperation. Skipp’s recovery from that point on was quick and he was running outdoors and working with a ball in the final weeks of the season on the training pitches.
football.london understands that the England Under-21 midfielder is now fully fit and has already returned to pre-season training away from the club, going through a set programme of work ahead his return to Hotspur Way on Monday.
Skipp will be looking to make up for lost time, particularly with new midfield competition in the shape of Spurs’ summer signing Yves Bissouma. Conte is a big fan of Skipp, calling him an important player for the club last season, and he and his coaching staff were impressed with the 21-year-old’s dedication to soaking up the Italian’s philosophy and ideas during his injury-enforced absence as he continued to consistently attend tactical meetings with the team.
The Spurs head coach has high hopes for Skipp, having taken a shine to him quickly after arriving at the club in November, recognising his tactical intelligence, fitness levels and technique and he believes he can turn him into a top midfielder. The young midfielder penned a bumper new five-year deal penned late in April to reflect the club’s belief in his future.
Skipp will return to Hotspur Way training and both Tanganga and Doherty will join him to make up for lost time following their knee injuries ahead of Conte’s tough pre-season demands.
Tanganga required surgery on his right knee injury in March and football.london understands the 23-year-old is now fully fit and ready for the pre-season period. The centre-back is expected to get plenty of game time across the pre-season friendlies next month before Conte makes a decision on what comes next for the young defender.
Doherty is expected to return to full fitness during the pre-season period, having ruptured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee injury during Spurs’ victory at Aston Villa on April 9.
The following week Conte explained: “I think the first visit with the doctor said he can recover without surgery. His type of situation, different opinions and make the best decision. Seven, eight weeks before he recovers. For this reason, his season has finished. it is a pity as Doherty was an important player for us.”
Medial collateral ligament injuries can take up to 12 weeks to recover from and Doherty’s latest progress will be checked upon the right wing-back’s return to the training complex on Monday.
The rest of Tottenham’s non-international players are expected back early the following week before the international stars return in time for the club’s departure for their tour of Korea.
(Football London – Alasdair Gold)
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