Antonio Conte insists that no one in his Tottenham squad is undroppable as questions continue to be raised over the form of struggling attacker Son Heung-min.
The South Korean has failed to score in the opening eight games of the new campaign, with six of those in the Premier League and two in the Champions League, while has just assist to his name.
Having previously backed Son to come good, Conte was again asked the question about the forward’s form ahead of Saturday’s clash with Leicester.
He responded: “No players are undroppable. This has to be clear. If I say this it’s only to help my players and to avoid injuries, to try to have players in a good performance. You know you can play one game well, another so-so and another not. My job is to protect my players and find the right way to get a good result.
“If you don’t start with some players then you have the possibility to use them in the game.
“If we want to play these four competitions, in the conference league it can give you the possibility to make rotations in the group stage and if you drop a bit of the quality you can maybe still win. In the Champions League it is different.”
Speaking ahead of the Foxes game, Conte also admitted that Lucas Moura remains his only absentee.
Oliver Skipp is also building up his fitness and be back on the pitch very soon, with Conte adding: “Don’t forget Skippy. He is very reliable, he’s a prospect but I can count on him.
“He’s an important player. In the next few games he can have a better physical condition and I can count on him also.”
Dier deserving of England recall
Meanwhile, Conte has hailed Eric Dier‘s recall to the England squad for the Nations League clashes with Italy and Germany.
The Tottenham centre-back is back in the squad for the first time in two years. And it’s reward for his fine performances during the 10 months of Conte’s reign.
And the Italian said: “I’m really pleased because when the national team call my players I am really proud because it means we are working very well.
“We are trying to help the players to go with the national team. In this case with Eric, it was a really good achievement for him. I can only tell him that it is to be a starting point.
“He has to gain the possibility to go to the World Cup. Before the World Cup he has to continue to play well, have a good performance, have a good stability and [show] that he is a reliable player.
“What I can tell him is only this, to continue this way. To continue to work hard and to have this concentration. My staff and I and his team-mates are very happy for this call for the national team.”
