Tottenham Captain Cristian Romero Ruled Out for Season Due to Knee Injury

Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Cristian Romero, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained during Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sunderland. The Argentine defender was forced off the pitch in tears after colliding with Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky while attempting to defend against Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey. Reports suggesting Romero will recover in time for the World Cup are deemed inaccurate, and his club season is now over. This latest setback adds to the woes of relegation-threatened Tottenham, who find themselves in the bottom three, two points from safety, with only six league matches left to play. Romero's absence is a significant blow to new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had previously identified the defender as a 'crucial player' for the team. De Zerbi will now have to find an alternative, with Kevin Danso lined up to replace Romero for the rest of the season. Romero faces a challenge to regain fitness in time for Argentina's World Cup title defense, which begins on June 17. The injury occurred when Brobbey, who was already on a yellow card, pushed Romero, sparking debate over whether the striker should have been sent off. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes the incident did not warrant a second yellow card, stating that the collision was not a serious foul. Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd agreed, suggesting that Brobbey's push was a result of Romero shielding the ball. Tottenham's struggles persist under De Zerbi, with the team's performance against Sunderland doing little to inspire confidence in their ability to avoid relegation. Sky Sports pundits, including Jamie Carragher, have expressed their doubts about Tottenham's chances of survival, with Carragher stating that the team looks likely to be relegated.