Tottenham suffer huge blow in top four race with Romero sidelined for five weeks

Tottenham Hotspur’s bid to secure a top-four slot has taken a knock with yet another key component of Ange Postecoglou’s squad added to their alarming list of sidelined players.

The Australian manager, who has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, confirmed fresh injury concerns in a press conference ahead of the midweek clash against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Postecoglou confirmed that vice-captain Cristian Romero is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a knock in the hard-fought 2-1 victory over Everton last time out.

The Argentina international was replaced by Eric Dier in Saturday’s entertaining contest and was later seen with ice on his leg on the home bench.

Postecoglou believes it could take up to five weeks before Romero rejoins the fold in another injury blow that could disrupt Tottenham’s plans to return to the Champions League this season.

“No, no,” Postecoglou said (via the club’s official website). “He’s no good. He’s had a scan, so he’ll be out for four or five weeks.

“Everyone else got through it okay. There’s a few sore bodies there but we’ve had a sort of, easier training week, last few days anyway, but everyone else is okay.”

Tottenham will struggle without Romero’s leadership

Even with a sketchy disciplinary record, Romero has been pivotal to the Spurs set-up and his influence on the team has been a primary catalyst for the revival under Postecoglou’s leadership this season.

In the absence of his partner in crime, Micky van de Ven, Romero has managed to galvanise the Spurs backline that has conceded just twice in their last three games.

Without the World Cup winner, Postecoglou may opt to field Dier and Ben Davies in a significantly weakened makeshift defence that will undoubtedly struggle to propel the team forward.

The silver lining for Postecoglou amid the piling injury problems is Van de Ven’s imminent return, with the defender expected to return in time for the clash against Manchester United on January 14.