Tottenham finally get fitness boost as Oliver Skipp update emerges – Sky Sports News
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou could have some fresh legs in midfield when his side host Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
It is very rare these days that Postecoglou is telling the press about a player who is available, with most of the Australian’s updates in recent weeks being about his numerous injured stars.
Cristian Romero was the latest key man to join the club’s ever-growing list of absentees, and the north London side certainly felt his absence on the south coast as they were beaten 4-2 by Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Thursday 28 December.
Tottenham will look to bounce back and end 2023 on a high when Bournemouth come to town, but it won’t be easy, with the Cherries unbeaten in their last seven league matches, and striker Dominic Solanke scoring for fun, with 12 league goals already so far this season.
It will be a competitive game that will require all hands on deck, although unfortunately for Posteocglou, Spurs are a long way from a full-strength squad at the moment.
However, the 58-year-old did have some positive fitness news to share during his pre-match press conference.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s showdown on Friday afternoon (29 December), Postecoglou told reporters (Sky Sports News), “Hopefully we might get Oliver Skipp back which is probably the only fresh legs we’ll have to contribute to what we’re doing.
“Bournemouth is a good challenge for us but we’re at home and whilst we’ve lost a couple of games at home, every home game we’ve been well in them and we’ll need to be at our best to match Bournemouth on Sunday.”
Skipp’s return is a welcome boost after his most recent performance in the 2-1 home win against Everton on Saturday 23 December.
As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old impressed in midfield, completing 92 per cent of his passes, playing two accurate long balls forward, winning four of his five ground duels, and making two tackles and two clearances.
Skipp has hardly featured this season, but when he has played, he has often made a positive account of himself, and could therefore be in line to start alongside Pape Matar Sarr on Sunday.
Some supporters might argue that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg should maintain his place against Bournemouth, with his stats from the match at Brighton not too dissimilar to Skipp’s against the Toffees.
Hojbjerg completed 91 per cent of his passes, played five accurate long balls forward, made three tackles, won ten ground duels and was successful with three of his four dribble attempts. However, Skipp certainly offers more going forward, as his impressive cameo in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City on 3 December proved.
After being introduced late in the second half, the midfielder won three of his four ground duels, made one tackle and was incredibly efficient on the ball, completing 100 per cent of the passes he attempted.
In addition, his involvement in the build-up to Spurs’ last-gasp equaliser ultimately proved to be vital.
Hojbjerg passed the ball to Skipp, who was under pressure with three City players around him and very few options available to him.
However, he reacted well, bringing the ball under control and driving forward, before picking out Son Heung-min, who found Brennan Johnson whose cross was headed home by Dejan Kulusevski.
This quality could certainly prove useful against Andoni Iraola’s side, but ultimately, whether Postecoglou chooses to start with Hojbjerg or Skipp, he will just be happy to have some options available at his disposal and a choice to make after the past few weeks.
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