Fixture headaches for Spurs and UEFA after Covid outbreak puts paid to Rennes clash

Tottenham are in talks with Uefa about when they can squeeze in their final group stage Europa Conference League fixture following the decision to postpone this week's clash.

But finding a date before the governing body's December 31 deadline will be impossible unless Spurs move one of their domestic fixtures to the new year

Thursday night was meant to see the showdown against Rennes to determine whether Spurs will be joining the French side in the next stage of this fledgling competition but a Covid outbreak affecting 13 players and staff members prompted a Wednesday cancellation - which infuriated the travelling French side who had been assured the game would go ahead.

Rennes have already qualified as group winners, but Tottenham's shock defeat to Slovenian side NS Mura in their previous game in the Conference League leaves them needing victory to be certain of qualifying at the expense of Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.

The trouble is, the calendar is already rammed. Antonio Conte's men are due to play at Brighton on Sunday and Leicester City on Thursday - both games now also on doubt because of illness in the Spurs camp.

Next Sunday, it's Liverpool at home, followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final with West Ham three days later and a Boxing Day derby against Crystal Palace - also at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Trips to Southampton on December 28 and Watford on New Year's Day mean there are no available dates - and in the new year there is the little matter of rescheduling that postponed fixture at Burnley.

Spurs closed their training ground on Wednesday and Conte said: "Now, for sure, we are a bit scared because tomorrow we don't know what happens. Every day we are having more positives. This is not a good situation.

"To speak about football today is impossible. The last situation made me very upset. The situation is serious. There is a big infection."

Rennes criticised Spurs for announcing the postponement after they had landed in England, having been told earlier in the day that the match would be played.