Ange Postecoglou has now revealed he’s been training one Tottenham player in a completely new position recently.
Spurs have found themselves stretched on the left of defence following injuries to Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies.
The difficult situation saw Emerson Royal used at left-back against Liverpool, and the Brazilian truly struggled as the Reds scored four.
Micah Richards even said it was a “nightmare” of a performance from the South American, who is apparently up for sale this summer.
With Ange Postecoglou searching for solutions, one Tottenham player has been learning a new role at Hotspur Way…
Oliver Skipp learning new position at Tottenham
The Australian revealed in his press conference earlier on Friday that Oliver Skipp is being trained to play on the left of defence, amid injuries to the aforementioned Davies and Udogie.
As quoted by Alasdair Gold of Football London, Postecoglou said: “We have been working with Skippy the last few weeks. When we lost Destiny and Ben, 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.
“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.”
While it would technically be a completely new position for Skipp – a natural central midfielder who has never started on the left of defence – Postecoglou makes a good point.
Spurs typically use a system with inverted full-backs under the 58-year-old.
Therefore, the Tottenham No.4 should regularly find himself in central areas that are more natural to him, even if he is selected to play at left-back against Burnley on Saturday.
Spurs No.4 could leave
Postecoglou was also asked about Skipp’s future in N17 – after making just four Premier League starts this season – and attempted to ease fears he could leave by saying: “Yeah, I see Skippy as part of our future.”
However – amid interest in Chelsea No.23 Conor Gallagher – Gary Jacob of The Times expects the England U21 international to be sold to make way for the England international.
Therefore, unless Skipp proves he can be a reliable option on the left of defence in these final two Premier League games, the 23-year-old may be offloaded this summer.