Skipp rewarded with new deal at Tottenham

TOTTENHAM midfielder Oliver Skipp has signed a new four-year contract.

The 19-year-old England U-21 international came through the ranks at Spurs and has caught the eye of manager Jose Mourinho this season.

Before lockdown, Skipp (below) started back-to-back matches against Norwich and Burnley but has played just six minutes since the restart, in a late cameo in the win over Arsenal. Afterwards, Mourinho said: “I know his blood is Spurs blood. I know what it means for him to play against Arsenal, to beat Arsenal.”

Spurs host Leicester on Sunday, with the Foxes facing a selection crisis as they fight for a top-four place. James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Christian Fuchs and Ricardo Pereira are all sidelined through injury, while centre-half Caglar Soyuncu is suspended and Marc Albrighton a doubt.

Spurs, whose own slim hopes of Champions League football were ended by wins for Leicester and Manchester United last night, will give a late fitness test to Dele Alli, who has missed the last four matches with a hamstring strain, but Tanguy Ndombele (hamstring) is out, along with the suspended Eric Dier.

Spurs will leave Serge Aurier to decide whether he wants to return from France for the game, after the defender was given compassionate leave to travel to Toulouse on Thursday following the death of his brother, Christopher.

Aurier revealed he had received a number of messages of support and told Toulouse daily La Depeche du Midi: “Above all I thank my team. I knew that I would not be alone on the pitch.”

Fit-again Japhet Tanganga could start at right-back even if Ivory Coast international Aurier makes himself available.