Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has confirmed his team news before the Premier League opener against Southampton as Oliver Skipp will 'definitely' miss out. 

The lowdown: Injury-plagued

Unfortunately, Skipp sat out much of the 2021/22 campaign due to a groin injury which saw the academy graduate miss 20 matches all told.

The 22-year-old England youth international had previously established himself as a mainstay in the senior squad, amassing 51 outings for Spurs following a successful season-long loan spell at Norwich City.

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Now, as the Lilywhites kick off their 2022/23 season by welcoming Southampton to N17, Skipp is certain to miss the curtain raiser in north London due to a freak heel injury...

The latest: 'Definitely'

Speaking to the assembled media ahead of the match (via football.london), Conte told the press that the 14-cap England Under 21 starlet will be absent for the opener whilst there are doubts elsewhere in the squad.

He said: “At the moment we only have one player who will definitely miss Southampton and that is Skipp. Bissouma, another day [before the game] still, nothing serious, but I don't want to take a risk with anyone for the next games.”

The verdict: Shame

Having endured a difficult campaign last year, Skipp - who was dubbed the 'perfect' player by former Norwich City manager Daniel Farke - would've been among those most relishing the opportunity for a clean slate this time around.

Instead, it's going to be another brief wait for the £16.2million valued uncompromising Englishman as the medical staff attempt to get the entire squad in full working order ahead of what is going to be a chaotic season, punctuated by a World Cup and the return of UEFA Champions League football to north London.

Before then, in the confirmed absence of Skipp, and indeed potentially Bissouma, Conte is likely to turn to Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and perhaps even Harry Winks to front up the engine room of the Tottenham starting XI.