Ange: Skippy 'an option' to play left-back

Ange Postecoglou hasn't ruled out starting Oliver Skipp in a left-back role after the midfielder impressed in the position in a cameo off the bench at Liverpool last weekend.

The Academy graduate, 23, has featured 22 times in all competitions this season, his latest appearance in the final 30 minutes for Emerson Royal as we came from 4-0 down to make it 4-2 at Anfield.

Season-ending injuries to Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies, plus the continued absence of Ryan Sessegnon, has left us without a recognised left-sided defender. Emerson, by trade a right-back, has filled in against Chelsea and Liverpool, and Ange is open to Skippy playing there as well as we approach three fixtures in the last week of the season against Burnley on Saturday (3pm UK), Manchester City on Tuesday evening (8pm) and Sheffield United on the final day (Sunday 19 May, 4pm).

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Ange was asked if Skippy could play in that role. "We have been working with Skippy the last few weeks," he said. "When we lost Destiny and Ben, we're left with Emerson who is not really a left-back, we were looking around at options and in training we have been using him in that space.

"I thought he did well when he came on (at Anfield). The way we play with full-backs, certainly with some of the positioning, he wouldn’t be too unfamiliar with the positions he would need to take up. He is an option for us and I think we need another option because we have three games this week and we only have Emerson as a back-up full-back at the club."