Team news ahead of Everton - Antonio’s latest on Deki

Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined for our Premier League clash at home to Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm).

The Sweden international returned to training this week but isn’t quite ready for a return to action. Apart from Deki, and suspended Emerson Royal, Antonio Conte has a full squad available.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY after training on Friday, Antonio said: “Deki is close but is still not available for tomorrow’s game. He has to wait. We need to have a bit of patience with him and to recover him very well.”

Asked about Deki and team news at his pre-match press conference, Antonio added: “We have the same players as the last game. Deki is not available. The rest of the players are okay. We need to have a bit of patience with Deki, don’t take risks, because we have to play a lot of games from now until November. It will be very important to recover him very well and, at this moment, it’s not 100 per cent sure to be in perfect physical condition. For this reason, it’s good to respect the opinion of the doctors on the player.”

Antonio was later asked if Deki would be fit to face Manchester United on Wednesday (19 October), to which he replied: “At this moment it’s a bit difficult to answer yes or no. It depends on the new MRI (scan) he did today and what the doctors say about his situation, also, the feeling of the player. I was a player and in this situation it’s important to respect the feeling of the player, because the player has to feel he’s okay, 100 per cent.”