Antonio Conte confirms three absentees for Southampton clash

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has confirmed that Eric Dier, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga will all be absent from Wednesday's Premier League clash with Southampton due to injury.

The trio were all forced to sit out the weekend's FA Cup success over Brighton & Hove Albion due to their various issues, although Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min were fit to return.

There was slight hope over Dier's availability for the visit of Southampton, but Conte has now revealed that none of the players will make it back in time for Wednesday.

"No news. Eric Dier is not available and it's the same for Skipp and Tanganga. The others are all available," Conte said at his pre-match press conference, as quoted by football.london.

Elaborating on Skipp's groin injury, Conte added: "He had a problem then we tried to take care with him then we need to have a bit of patience with him. He is another player that I have seen great improvement in him. It's a pity that he is unavailable.

"I hope to have him back very soon. The medical department told me two weeks but I hope to have him available in one week/10 days maximum and for this reason I push the medical department because we're talking about an important player for Tottenham Hotspur."

Tottenham enter Wednesday's game down in seventh in the Premier League table - two points off the top four with two games in hand on Manchester United in the final Champions League spot.