Furious Antonio Conte wants Tottenham’s medical team to answer questions about injured players

In an astonishing rant against his own medical department, Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said the club’s doctors should start answering journalists’ questions about injured players

The Italian has been frustrated by the slow progress made by injured midfielder Oliver Skipp, who has missed the last five games.

Last week, Conte suggested he might need help from the medical team when quizzed about returning injured players.

And today his mood boiled over as he spoke about Skipp’s progress, who he considers a key member of his Tottenham project.

Skipp has not played since Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 earlier this year and there had been hopes that he could return for the game against Everton on Monday night.

But Conte said he has had little information and would rather have a member of the medical team explain his absence.

In a remarkable broadside against the club’s staff, he said: “Oliver Skipp … it is a pity, I think in England that sometimes you should have a conference with the medical department.

“The doctors, it is too easy for the doctors to work here, because they don’t speak, they don’t explain what happens, you understand?

“Sometimes I think that could be good, one day, if in two weeks, to have a good press conference with the medical department to explain about the situation of the players, about the situation that they are trying to take care of their players.

“It is too easy for the medical department in England, I think.”

And Conte gave an update on Skipp.

“He’s not ready, he’s having this problem with groin pain, and is fighting and he could recover before but maybe something was wrong, and now we have to wait,” the Italian said.

It wasn’t all bad news for the Tottenham manager, who confirmed that winter signing from Juventus, Rodrigo Bentancur, was fit and would be ready for the game on Monday night.

The Italian midfielder missed the emphatic win against Leeds last week, but will now compete for a place in the starting eleven.

Brazilian forward Lucas Moura who also has been struggling with pain and was absent against Leeds is in line for a return after coming through training this week.

The Tottenham boss confirmed: “Yeah, Bentancur is available. The same for Lucas Moura. For Skipp and Tanganga, they’re still not available. We have to wait.”

Tottenham are still in with a chance of securing Champions League football, but the error margins are very small and they will have to get all three points again on Monday night.