Tottenham are dealt a huge blow as captain Hugo Lloris is set to be out for up to EIGHT weeks after suffering a knee injury in their win over Manchester City
- Tottenham Hotspur do not expect Hugo Lloris to return earlier than six weeks
- The 36-year-old will miss both legs of the club’s Champions League last-16 tie
- Lloris is also set to miss an FA Cup tie and multiple Premier League matches
Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a massive blow with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris set to be ruled out from between six to eight weeks.
The Spurs captain picked up a knee injury in the 1-0 win over Manchester City last Sunday and could now be out until early April.
Lloris is now set to miss a large chunk of Tottenham’s crucial games including both legs of their Champions League last-16 clash with AC Milan.
The 36-year-old sustained ligament damage during the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium although it is not thought at this stage that he will need an operation.
Antonio Conte will now likely turn to reserve keeper Fraser Forster, who has been the back-up keeper to the Frenchman this season.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to be without captain Hugo Lloris for up to eight weeks
The goalkeeper picked up a knee injury following Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Manchester City
Forster arrived during the summer and has made four appearances this term, three of those coming in cup competitions.
The former England international was also in goal for Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Brentford on Boxing Day after Lloris was still in post World Cup recovery mode following France’s defeat by Argentina in the World Cup final.
As well as the Champions League games, Lloris is now likely to miss Premier League matches against Leicester City, West Ham United, Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.
Spurs are also looking to progress in the FA Cup and the keeper, who has been with the club for 11 years, will also miss the fifth round tie against Sheffield United.
Best case scenario is thought to see Lloris return to action around mid-March which could time with a potential FA Cup quarter-final tie.
But if Lloris was to miss the full eight weeks then he could be back in time to face Everton at Goodison Park following the international break.
Spurs’s Champions League opponents Milan also have goalkeeper troubles ahead of the last-16 tie with Mike Maignan set to miss out with a calf injury.
Lloris’s international team-mate has been out since September but had hoped to recover for the first leg at the San Siro on February 14.
However, the Rossoneri now hope he can be fit enough for the return leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 8.
The club captain is now set to be out until at least mid-March and could even return in April
The news will come as a blow to Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte (right)
Former England international Fraser Forster is now set to be given an extended first-team run
Italian boss Antonio Conte is expected to be back on the touchline for the first leg at the San Siro as he prepares to return to the touchline following gallbladder surgery.
Conte will be pleased to return to a Spurs camp who would have been boosted over the weekend with a superb 1-0 win over Premier League champions Manchester City.
Spurs are fighting on three fronts heading into the tie as along with a pursuit of a first Champions League title, the club are aiming to keep alive their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League.
In addition they are also keeping up their bid to win their first FA Cup in 32 years.
They will take on Sheffield United in the fifth round of the competition following the Blades dramatic late 3-1 win over Wrexham at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night.