Tottenham Hotspur 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 the ball from Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.
Contrary to reports suggesting Romero may recover in time for the World Cup, his club season has come to an end. The injury is a significant blow to relegation-threatened Tottenham, who are currently in the bottom three and two points away from safety with only six league games remaining. This latest setback adds to the challenges faced by new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, who had previously expressed his reliance on Romero, describing him as a 'crucial player' after the Sunderland defeat.
With Romero now out of action, Kevin Danso is poised to take his place for the remainder of the season. Romero's injury has also raised questions about the push by Brobbey that led to the collision, with some arguing that the striker should have been sent off.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, however, believes the incident did not warrant a red card, stating that 'it wasn't a serious foul.' The injury has dealt a significant blow to Tottenham's hopes of avoiding relegation, with the team's performance in the defeat at Sunderland doing little to inspire confidence. The appointment of De Zerbi as head coach was seen as a high-stakes gamble, and the team's persistent struggles have led to concerns about their ability to climb out of the bottom three. With tough fixtures ahead, including matches against Brighton, Wolves, and Chelsea, Tottenham's chances of survival look increasingly slim.