Tottenham Hotspur legend reveals why Oliver Skipp has impressed under Antonio Conte
Oliver Skipp has quickly become an essential player for Antonio Conte, and Tottenham Hotspur legend Gary Mabbutt has chipped in with his insight on why that is the case. Perhaps, this development was a surprise to many but it is something we will accept with open hands.
When Conte arrived at N17, it afforded players like Tanguy Ndombele an opportunity to rekindle their careers in North London. However, it has been Skipp who has taken the opportunity with both hands.
Speaking on N17 Live (h/t Football.London), Mabbutt explained why he believes the 21-year-old has enjoyed a great time under the Italian. He was talking after Tottenham’s win against Brentford in the Premier League.
Mabutt believes that Skipp has come out a better player since his loan stint at Norwich City. With a successful spell with the Canaries in the bag, Skipp returned to the Lane full of confidence. It certainly shows in his game.
“I think Oliver Skipp has grown so much in stature and character since he went to Norwich. I think that’s been a fantastic loan period for him. I think he’s come back a lot better player, a lot stronger player.”
It is debatable if Skipp would have developed the way he did had he stayed at Spurs last season. Regular playing time even if it is at a lower level can go a long way in helping build one’s career.
“If he’d have stayed here [at Tottenham], I don’t think he would be anything like the player he is at the moment. He’s a hard working lad, he always wants to improve his game and you can see that during his spell at Norwich that he did grow in stature.”
A Great Assessment
The Englishman joined Norwich City on a season-long loan deal in 2020 and has helped them achieve promotion to the Premier League. That enabled him to gain valuable experience through regular game time at a competitive level.
The midfielder has just missed one game this season under the new Tottenham manager, which was due to a suspension that he picked up, having collected five yellow cards.
Conte recently said how he believes the Spurs star can improve further and reach newer heights. It shows how highly he trusts the player while showing that he acknowledges the quality of the Tottenham midfielder.
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He could feature on Sunday against Norwich City as the team try to get into the Champions League spots. A win and other favourable results could see us jump up to the fourth spot. It would be a good turnaround compared to the last days of Nuno Espirito Santo.
