Tottenham Hotspur are facing an anxious wait over Cristian Romero’s fitness after he was substituted early during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Peru on Wednesday morning.
The Athletic reports that the early indications suggest the ankle issue is not serious, but he still has to be assessed ahead of Monday’s London derby against Fulham.
Romero is an integral part of the Argentina national team and is usually one of the first names on the team sheet.
Having lasted the entire 90 minutes against Paraguay the previous Friday, the Spurs centre-half was named in the starting line-up against Peru.
However, the 25-year-old’s international outing took a worrisome turn when he was unable to complete the game following a strong tackle challenge from Peru’s Paolo Guerrero early in the match.
Romero received on-field medical attention at halftime but was ultimately replaced by German Pezzella shortly after the break, sparking concerns in the Tottenham camp ahead of their clash against Fulham.
He has established himself as a core part of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side that has taken the Premier League by storm this season.
The Argentine defender has formed a formidable partnership with Netherlands international Micky van de Ven at the heart of Spurs’ backline, contributing two goals and three clean sheets.
Romero’s early season form has significantly contributed to Tottenham’s rise to the pinnacle of the Premier League, sitting level on points with Arsenal.
Both sides are the only teams yet to suffer defeat in the Premier League, and Tottenham will be eager to protect that record when they host Fulham.
However, their task could be complicated by Romero’s potential absence, and it doesn’t help that club captain Heung-min Son is struggling for fitness ahead of the clash.
Son has emerged as a talismanic figure for Spurs this season, netting six times in eight Premier League games, shouldering the goalscoring burden after Harry Kane’s departure.
However, his participation in the Fulham clash is also uncertain after the 31-year-old was seen limping towards the tunnel after South Korea’s 6-0 victory over Vietnam.
