Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte's answer to a question about Oliver Skipp at a Hotspur Way press conference caused confusion among members of the press, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

Conte was critical about the club's medical department after being quizzed over the midfielder's injury that has kept him out since January.

What has Conte said about Skipp's injury?

Early last month, the Italian called on Spurs' doctors to explain exactly why the 21-year-old has spent so long on the sidelines.

Skipp last played against Chelsea on 23 January, missing 13 games in all competitions following a pelvic problem.

Conte has been continuously asked about Skipp's condition, and seemingly lost his patience when he called out some of the backroom staff in a press conference on 4 March.

"Oliver Skipp, it is a pity," he said. "In England, I think that sometimes you should have a [press] conference with the medical department.

"It is too easy for the doctors to work here because they don't speak, they don't explain what happens, you understand? Sometimes I think that could be good … if, in two weeks … to have a good press conference with the medical department to explain about the situation that they are trying to take care of their players."

But Bridge said that some of the press weren't sure if Conte was mucking around or not.

What did Bridge say about Conte?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "Being in those press conferences when it's being asked by the written press, he was really critical of the medical department. We thought he was joking.

"When I was talking to Alasdair Gold and Dan Kilpatrick after, I said, 'how are you going to write this one up, because I got the impression he was serious' and Ali Gold agreed and said, 'yeah he was, he's really not happy with the medical team'. But it's not really their fault if Skipp has got a niggling long-term issue."

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Could Skipp play again this season?

With no concrete update in regard to Skipp's current condition, he's now in a race against time to return before the end of the campaign.

Tottenham have just six Premier League games remaining after this weekend, although their final day trip to Norwich City, Skipp's former loan side, is now just five weeks away, meaning time isn't on his side.

Skipp trained on his own on the grass earlier this month but reported soreness on the issue and was sent back indoors in what was the latest in a line of setbacks.