Tottenham have suffered a major injury blow after captain Hugo Lloris was ruled out for at least six weeks with a knee injury.
Lloris picked up the problem during Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and needed treatment late in the game.
The Frenchman was able to finish the match but subsequent tests have revealed ligament damage. Spurs are hopeful that the issue may not need surgery to resolve but Lloris is still facing a significant period on the sidelines of between six and eight weeks.
The absence of his first-choice goalkeeper will create a significant headache for Antonio Conte during what is set to be a crucial period in Spurs’ season, not to mention dampen the mood following the weekend’s showpiece victory over the champions, in which Harry Kane broke Jimmy Greaves all-time club scoring record.
Spurs travel to Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday looking to keep pace in the race for Champions League qualification, currently sat a point behind fourth-placed Newcastle.
In the League, Lloris is then set to miss London derbies against West Ham and Chelsea, before the end of the month, as well as games against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Southampton in the lead up to the March international break.
Conte’s side also have the small matter of a Champions League last-16 tie against AC Milan to contend with, with the first leg set for next Tuesday at the San Siro and the return in north London on March 8.
Lloris will be absent for both games, as well as the FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Championship high-fliers Sheffield United, who set up the fixture with their dramatic fourth-round replay victory over non-league Wrexham last night.
In Lloris’ absence, former Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster will be expected to take the gloves having kept a clean sheet in last month’s FA Cup win over Preston, while Kane will deputise as captain.
