Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to have Oliver Skipp in contention to return from injury when Spurs take on Newcastle United in the first Premier League clash after the international break, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The north Londoners will be hoping to break into the top four when domestic football returns in the early stages of next month, having moved to within three points of arch-rivals Arsenal, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

What's the latest news involving Skipp?

Football.London's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has revealed that Skipp is closing in on a return to action.

According to Gold, Spurs head coach Antonio Conte has claimed the central midfielder is feeling less pain as he continues his recovery from a pelvic injury and he could even return to the fray when Newcastle head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 3.

Skipp has not featured since emerging as a substitute during the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in January.

The 21-year-old's prolonged absence has clearly frustrated Conte as he recently suggested the north Londoners' doctors should publicly explain why Skipp remains on the treatment table.

While Skipp has been unable to make an impact on the pitch, he is reportedly close to signing a bumper new deal with Spurs.

Negotiations got underway despite his current agreement, which is worth £24,000-per-week, still having more than two years to run.

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What has Michael Bridge said about Skipp?

Bridge understands Skipp has not suffered any recent setbacks in his recovery from the pelvic injury.

The Sky Sports reporter, like Gold, believes the visit of Newcastle to north London has been pinpointed as a potential return date for the 14-cap England under-21s international.

However, he has insisted that there is no pressure on Skipp to step up his rehabilitation before then.

Bridge told GIVEMESPORT: "I've not heard anything too negative. Apparently, they're trying to target Newcastle, but nothing's set in stone yet, so they've got a week-and-a-half."

Who has been featuring at the heart of Spurs' midfield in Skipp's absence?

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has regularly been involved in Tottenham's starting line-up since his £15million switch from Southampton, with him already racking up 92 appearances less than two years on from that move.

Hojbjerg has featured 39 times this season, with the change of management failing to have an impact on his playing time.

Rodrigo Bentancur has also made one of the central midfield slots his own in recent weeks.

It comes after the Uruguayan sealed a transfer worth up to £21.5million from Italian giants Juventus on deadline day of the January window.