Antonio Conte believes Sergio Reguilon has "had a bit of a problem" trying to recover from Covid.
A regular in the Italian's Spurs side this season, the left-back missed out completely in the recent 3-2 win over Man City and revealed on social media that his absence was actually down to Covid.
Returning on the bench at Burnley four days later, Reguilon has had to bide his time on the sidelines since with Ryan Sessegnon starting ahead of him.
Again missing out on the XI earlier in the week against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, the ex-Real Madrid man was given the final 15 minutes when he came on at the halfway point in extra time.
Speaking about his player's fitness, Conte also opened up on the options he has at wing-back and revealed why it won't be so easy for his player to regain his place in the team.
"He had Covid, I think he had a bit of a problem to recover from this," Conte told football.london. "But Sergio knows very well he has to fight to play, because also there is at this moment Sessegnon, that is playing regularly, he is having good performances.
"We have four wing-backs, with Doherty and Emerson, and also during the game, sometimes if I want to try to push the game I can put in this position also Kulusevski.
"There are four players. And every game I try to decide for the best for the team, to make the best decision.
"There are not players stable to play every game, I can play Sessegnon, I can play Reguilon, I can play Doherty, I can play Emerson, it depends on the training session.
"Not only in these roles, but in every role. From now until the end, we have to try to get the best from the players. It is not to the time to wait for anybody.
"The players that are in good form, they play. The others, they are on the bench, or in the crowd."
