Skippy ready to push on after ‘not the ideal last nine months’
Mon 24 October 2022, 18:30|
Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday represented a significant step for Oliver Skipp, but the midfielder couldn’t bring himself to speak too positively after our 2-1 loss against Newcastle.
It was Skippy’s first start since our 3-2 win at Leicester City on 23 January - covering 36 matches in all competitions - as he first recovered from a pubis injury that required surgery in April, then the added blow of a foot injury as he returned to action in pre-season.
After two substitute appearances, the Academy graduate was back out there for a 66-minute stint against the Toon that drew praise from manager Antonio Conte, delighted to have him back in the fold.
However, football is all about results, and the loss dominated the 22-year-old’s thoughts afterwards.
I need to keep pushing and making sure that when I get opportunities, I take them and keep performing better and better each time
Speaking to SPURSPLAY, Skippy told us: “It's not been the most ideal last, what, nine months... it’s nice to be out there again but it's always hard to reflect on that when the result is what it is. I would have liked to have maybe performed a bit better and helped the team to get that victory.
“I feel 100 per cent, I’m training hard and obviously that rhythm will start to come more and more with the more training time and game time I get. I need to keep pushing and making sure that when I get those opportunities, I take them and keep performing better and better each time.”
Skippy felt we started well against Newcastle - indeed, we had 11 shots before they opened the scoring – but that the goals ‘changed the game’ as we ended up chasing the game at 2-0 down at half-time. Harry Kane pulled a goal back, but we couldn’t find an equaliser, ending our fine run of 10 straight wins at home going back to April.
He was more inclined to look forward to a huge match back in the UEFA Champions League at home against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday evening (8pm) knowing victory will book our place in the knockout phase with a game remaining.
Asked how the team would look to turn things around, Skippy said: “Work hard, to reflect on those last couple of games and there are lots of things that we can definitely improve on, and we'll be doing everything we can to make sure that come Wednesday, that happens.
“It's always difficult after two defeats but we've a massive game on Wednesday, so everybody is going to be up for it and making sure we get that performance, that extra five per cent. It doesn't feel like we're miles off.”
