NUNO HAS SKIPP’S SUPPORT

TOTTENHAM midfielder Oliver Skipp insists boss Nuno Espirito Santo still has the full support of the dressing room.

After three defeats on the spin in the Premier League — to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal last Sunday in the north London derby — there have been calls from some Spurs fans for the club to part ways with the Portuguese, who only took over in the summer. But Skipp (left), whose side bounced back with a Harry Kane-inspired 5-1 win over Slovenian side NS Mura on Thursday, is adamant Nuno still has his players’ backing.

He said: “As a group, we are fully aware that those last few games perhaps we haven’t been at our best.

“We’re definitely still behind the manager and trying to implement stuff that we are working on.

“As players, we take responsibility for the performances on the pitch.

“So, we had a few bad results, but we remain positive and know it is a long process and things are going to take time.”

Nuno has put his faith in Skipp – who has started four of Spurs’ six

Premier League games and come off the bench in the other two – following his return after a seasonlong loan spell at Norwich.

Skipp added: “I’ve learnt a lot from the trust he has given me to play a lot of minutes so far.

“But also he is very concise with the instructions that he gives you out on the training field.

“There are definitely things he has added to my game, for example trying to stay a bit more centrally, like I did against Mura, for turnovers when we lose the ball, just to make sure I am that shield in front of the defence.

“He is a manager I can learn from and he can definitely improve my game.” Someone else Skipp, 21, expects to learn from is Kane, whose hat-trick after coming off the bench on Thursday will fuel hope in Spurs fans that he has put behind him his disappointment at not joining Manchester City.

Skipp said: “For the young players just to watch and see what he does, to take little things from his game and try to implement them into your game, it only helps.”