Antonio Conte on Japhet Tanganga surgery as the defender is set to miss the rest of the season

Antonio Conte has given his thoughts on the surgery Japhet Tanganga underwent, which would see the defender miss the rest of the season. The centre-back will now rehabilitate behind the scenes as he looks to get back into contention ahead of the next season.

Speaking in the pre-match presser ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League match against West Ham United (h/t Football.London), Conte has conveyed that the medical department tried their best to find a solution without going down the route of surgery. He added that they eventually decided to go under the knife and has given a confirmation of Tanganga’s return date.

“With Japhet, the medical department tried until the end to find a solution but in the end it was the best solution for the player and the doctor to have this operation, this surgery to clear his knee. He will be ready next season.”

The Italian manager also provided an update on Ryan Sessegnon, who had suffered a hamstring issue. The boss has mentioned that the wingback will undergo another scan after a month, and he will be back in contention in case of a positive outcome.

“About Ryan, we’re waiting four weeks to have another scan and then if everything is okay he’ll restart training sessions with us.”

Unfortunate injury concerns

Finally, the 52-year-old coach revealed when Oliver Skipp would be available in the squad once again after being on the sidelines for about two months. The boss added that the central midfielder is feeling better with each passing day, but they have to wait and see if he can feature against Newcastle United after the international break.

“About Skippy, I hope to have him after the international break. His pain it seems is getting better and better. We’ll have two weeks to see this improvement and make him ready for the game against Newcastle.”

It is good to know that we finally have some time frame on Skipp and Tanganga’s return. Unfortunately, the central defender will be out on the sidelines for the remainder of this term. As for the midfielder, we are hopeful that he will return to the squad after the break as it would be a major boost for the Spurs boss.

We have sufficient backup for Tanganga, so his absence would not affect us to that extent. That is, if there are no further injuries or suspensions in that position moving forward. That is not the case in midfield, as we are going through a bit of a crisis due to the lack of adequate options.

After all, we only have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Winks and Rodrigo Bentancur available for selection at this moment. Skipp’s return not only helps with depth but also would add more quality to our ranks as he was a crucial player for the former Chelsea coach before the injury.

Lastly, one would feel for what Sessegnon is going through right now. Injuries have constantly plagued him throughout his time with us after leaving Swansea City. Let’s hope that the medical department can not only recover him from this setback but also prevent similar recurrences in the future.

More Tottenham Hotspur News

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Things are a bit easier for us this term as compared to some of the other top teams. While not being in any cup competitions in March is embarrassing for a club like Spurs, it can help us gain an advantage in the race for the top four- as some of our rivals have a commitment in Europe and/or domestic cup competitions.

If we have a fit team at our disposal, there is every possibility that we can overtake Arsenal and finish in the top four this season.