Antonio Conte has explained Steven Bergwijn’s absence from the Tottenham Hotspur squad for this afternoon’s match against Southampton.
The Dutchman impressed during his first Premier League start under the Italian prior to Christmas, having scored during the 2-1 win against West Ham United, while also providing an assist.
Bergwijn’s name was not included for the trip to St Mary’s, with Conte revealing that the 24-year-old suffered a calf issue during the Boxing Day victory over Crystal Palace in North London, having come on as a second-half replacement to play the remaining 26 minutes of the encounter.
Conte admitted that Bergwijn will not be fit enough to return in time for Tottenham’s trip to Watford on New Year’s Day with Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Cristian Romero all still sidelined due to injury.
He told Football.London: “Steven is injured. During the game against Crystal Palace he felt a problem with his calf and together he’s injured with Lo Celso, Romero and Sessegnon.
“They won’t be back for the weekend.”
SpursWeb Opinion
It is frustrating to see Bergwijn injured once again with the winger unable to build any consistency with the injury niggles he appears to pick up on a regular basis.
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