Is Skipp the long-term partner for Hojbjerg in Tottenham's midfield?
Oliver Skipp is no stranger to the rigours of Premier League football. The 20-year-old made 15 top-flight outings between 2018 and 2020, though a lack of experience at this level meant Tottenham were wary at fast-tracking the midfielder into the first team without regular game time under his belt.
Spurs were also conscious that a lack of action would stunt his development and with Skipp considered one for the future in north London, they were happy to send the youngster out on loan to get crucial minutes. Norwich were the happy recipients of Skipp in a move that benefitted both parties.
Skipp played in all but one league game for the Canaries, who returned to the Premier League as champions. Emiliano Buendia may have been the start of the show for Norwich, but it was Skipp who linked play together in the middle of the park to great effect. Indeed, he made more accurate passes (2208) than any other midfielder in the regular 2020/21 Championship season, that second overall to centre-back Grant Hanley (2570).
Off the ball, Skipp showed a dogged determination to win possession back for Norwich with a total of 150 tackles and interceptions combined the 11th best in the division. As one might expect, supporters were devastated to see Skipp return to north London, though the arrival of Billy Gilmour from Chelsea eased those woes.
Nevertheless, Skipp is back at Hotspur Way and ready to take his chance under Nuno Espirito Santo. The Portuguese boss was named head coach at the end of June and his appointment presented the players with a clean slate and an opportunity to impress. Skipp is one of those who has welcomed the chance to strut his stuff in front of Nuno and having featured prominently in pre-season, there is a real possibility that Spurs will head into the new campaign with the England U21 international and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as the two holding midfielders in front of the backline.
Nuno has previously shown a willingness to tinker with his tactics to suit the personnel at his disposal. Last season, he sought to turn Wolves into a 4-2-3-1 side and it seems he'll follow suit this term with Tottenham with Skipp and Hojbjerg operating at the base of the midfield. It'll mark a significant turn in fortunes for Skipp, who must have seen the players ahead of him in the pecking order at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and considered his long-term future at the club.
Yet with question marks over the future of both Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko, coupled with the indifferent performances of Harry Winks in the middle of the park, Skipp has the perfect opportunity to nail down a regular starting berth in Nuno's side. He has the composure on the ball to ensure Spurs dominate in the midfield, a trait that belies his tender years, and the tenacity out of possession to help shield a leaky Spurs defence. There is potential there to forge a long-standing partnership with Hojbjerg in the middle of the park.
The former Saints man could prove to be the perfect player to learn from at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Skipp gears up for a baptism of fire against defending champions Manchester City this afternoon. City enjoyed more possession (60.8%) than any other team in the Premier League last season so denying them the chance to get the ball forward to the attack is of the utmost importance.
One of Spurs' weaknesses last season was a failure to find a suitable partner for Hojbjerg to help protect the goal, but in Skipp, Nuno has two ideal options that work hard off the ball for the good of the team. There is huge pressure on Skipp now to transfer his excellent Championship performances to the Premier League, and after a season where Spurs underperformed, any mistake will be scrutinised, but he has caught the eye in pre-season and with Hojbjerg the elder statesman in the middle of the park, albeit at 26, Nuno may just have his perfect central midfield partnership that could allow the north London side to flourish.
