Spurs v West Ham (Carabao Cup) - team news
Tue 21 December 2021, 15:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte reports that the squad is now clear of COVID-19 issues as we prepare to face West Ham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday evening (7.45pm).
In terms of wider team news, there is good news on Cristian Romero, out since sustaining a hamstring injury playing for Argentina against Brazil in World Cup qualifying in November, but that is countered by Ryan Sessegnon picking up a muscular problem after performing so well against Liverpool on Sunday and ruling him out of this tie.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference after training on Tuesday, Antonio explained: “All the players are now negative, which is good news for us. As you know well, with COVID, you need a bit of time because, for sure, many players at this moment are not so fit because they had to face this situation, but the good news is all the players are available. We have a little bad news in Ryan Sessegnon, he had a problem at the end of the game against Liverpool (on Sunday), he’s the only player with Cristian Romero who is injured.”
Now, he’s starting to work, the new scan was good and, I think, in three weeks he can come back
Speaking earlier to Spurs TV, Antonio told us: “Romero is out, but he’s improving. We are happy for the player, especially, because when you have this type of serious injury, for sure, your feeling is down. Now, he’s starting to work, the new scan was good and, I think, in three weeks he can come back.
“So, one positive, but one negative, and that’s Ryan Sessegnon. He had a problem at the end of the game against Liverpool. We hope he recovers very soon from this injury, because he played a good game and he’s a young player who needs to take confidence. But, for tomorrow, he’s not available. He needs to play with continuity. He’s a young player but physically strong, he’s very fast, good with his left foot. He’s a good prospect, for sure. He has to avoid these types of injury.”
Asked about Ryan later in the press conference, Antonio added: “I think 10 days, two weeks. He had a muscular problem at the end of the game against Liverpool. For sure, we need to find a good solution with Sess. I have seen in the past he’s suffered a bit with this type of injury. We have to find a resolution with the medical department to help the player.”
