Antonio Conte has revealed that Sergio Reguilon has struggled to fully recover from his bout of COVID-19 after receiving a positive test last month.
Reguilon took to Twitter on February 19 to reveal that he was not in the squad after he tested positive for COVID, but promised fans he would ‘be back soon’.
We finally saw the left-back make a return to competitive action on Tuesday when he came off the bench in extra-time to see Spurs lose 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
However, the Spaniard has not featured in the Premier League since February 9 in the defeat to Southampton. He missed out on the squad for Man City completely, while serving as an unused substitute against Wolves, Burnley and Leeds United (TransferMarkt).
Conte has now seemingly hinted that Reguilon’s lack of game time stems from a difficulty to fully shake his COVID infection, which has coincided with the rise in form of Ryan Sessegnon.
Conte said (Football London): “He had COVID, I think he had a bit of a problem to recover from this, but Sergio knows very well he has to fight to play, because also there is at this moment Sessegnon, that is playing regularly, he is having good performances.
“We have four wing-backs, with Doherty and Emerson, and also during the game, sometimes if I want to try to push the game I can put in this position also Kulusevski.
“There are four players and every game I try to decide for the best for the team, to make the best decision.
“There are not players stable to play every game, I can play Sessegnon, I can play Reguilon, I can play Doherty, I can play Emerson, it depends on the training session.
“Not only in these roles, but in every role. From now until the end, we have to try to get the best from the players. It is not the time to wait for anybody. The players that are in good form, they play. The others, they are on the bench, or in the stands.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
Having a fully fit Reguilon and Sessegnon fighting it out for the LWB spot would be great for Spurs. Conte needs options to work with in these high-intensity positions. Unfortunately, the right side is proving to be more of an issue with Emerson and Doherty.