Antonio Conte offered up praise and encouragement for Tottenham Hotspur academy midfielder Harvey White to football.london while discussing Oliver Skipp's new deal.
Skipp has signed a new five-year contract as the club looked to tie the 21-year-old academy product down for the long-term after a real breakthrough season of regular football until a pelvic injury halted his campaign. Conte has high hopes for the England Under-21 international and when football.london asked just how important the midfielder could be for Tottenham's future, he also offered up other young players as examples of what the academy has been doing well including extra praise for White.
"I'm very happy for Skippy because we're talking about a good player, a young player, a player from the academy and you know very well the importance of this club of developing players from the academy," said Conte. "In this squad we have [Japhet] Tanganga, [Dane] Scarlett, Harvey [White] is also improving a lot.
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"I'm very happy for [Skipp] because he’s not only a good player, we are talking about a fantastic guy. Unfortunately he's had that problem and he’s having a bit of problem with his injury because in this moment he's not available. I know his frustration. I think this new contract shows him that we trust him a lot. He’ll be very important for the present and for the future of Tottenham. I'm delighted for him."
White, 20, spent the second half of last season on loan at Portsmouth playing 21 games in League One, but he has had to bide his time this campaign without a minute of first team football to his name as he has helped bolster Conte's squad. However, he has clearly been catching the Italian's eye with his improvements in training and has been a regular on the bench in the Premier League with Conte naming him in all but three of his matchday squads since the turn of the year.
White has also starred for Spurs' Under-23s in the Premier League 2 and the U21s in the EFL Trophy, with seven goals and seven assists in 21 appearances.
The versatile academy product can play in central midfield or at left-back and is a dangerous set piece taker. He made his Tottenham senior debut last season under Jose Mourinho, playing in both the FA Cup win at Marine and the Europa League victory against Ludogorets.
Conte will need to make a decision in the summer over whether White, who has a contract until 2024, continues to push for a first team place or heads out on loan to further his experience.
