Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has issued an optimistic injury update regarding Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of the weekend visit of Everton in the Premier League.
The January signing sustained an ankle injury while slipping on the pitch during last week’s 1-0 defeat by Burnley and had to be substituted at half-time at Turf Moor.
Bentancur was subsequently sent for a scan amid fears that he could miss up to three weeks of action, although Conte expressed hope that the issue was not serious.
The Uruguay international was not involved at Elland Road on Saturday as Tottenham bounced back from a dismal night in Lancashire with a 4-0 rout of struggling Leeds, while he won’t play on Tuesday night either when Spurs face Championship play-off chasers Middlesbrough for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
However, it seems that Bentancur has taken positive steps in his recovery and could be available to face Frank Lampard’s Everton in north London on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Conte also hopes to have Oliver Skipp back in training next week after the popular academy graduate suffered an infection while recovering from a groin injury suffered in January.
Japhet Tanganga (knee) and Lucas Moura (thigh) are Tottenham’s only other injury concerns at present.
Speaking to Spurs TV on Monday, Conte said: “Bentancur is improving, and I think after this game, he can come back with us.
“Skippy has started to work. We are hoping to have him (back) in one week for training sessions. I hope so, because we are talking about a really good guy and he’s suffering a lot, Skippy, not being available. It’s the same with Japh... two important prospects for Tottenham, two young players.”
Alongside fellow new recruit from Juventus Dejan Kulusevski, Bentancur has settled well into life at Tottenham, while his likely return plus the impending comeback of Skipp will be a well-received boost to Conte’s midfield options, with the Italian having been left with only Harry Winks and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a central role.
