Pundit Noel Whelan has claimed that it will be a ‘huge blow’ for Tottenham Hotspur if captain Hugo Lloris misses their next game through injury.
Having gone away with France as part of the national team squad for the current international break, the goalkeeper unfortunately had to pull out of games against Austria and Denmark due to an issue with his thigh.
This comes at a worrying time for Spurs as they have a north London derby game coming up against bitter rivals Arsenal away from home in the Premier League this weekend.
While speaking about the injury concern in an interview with Football Insider, Whelan said that it would be as bad as ‘losing Harry Kane’ and claimed that Antonio Conte will be desperate to have his key man back.
He explained: “It’d be a huge blow.
“He’s captain by rights at the football club and he’s a very experienced, mature professional.
“He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world, so to lose someone like that with that knowledge, especially during a derby, it’s like losing Harry Kane.
“It’s part of that spine you don’t want to lose, and Conte will be hoping and praying he can come through this problem.
“It’d be a huge miss.”
TIF Thoughts on Hugo Lloris and Spurs…
Despite now being 35 years of age, Lloris is still very much the number-one option at Spurs and has played every minute in the Premier League so far this season, with the side remaining unbeaten (via Transfermarkt).
With that in mind, it makes total sense for Whelan to be so concerned about the situation and he rightly suggests that manager Conte will be desperate to have the Frenchman fit to play against Arsenal.
To make the situation even more precarious, backup option Fraser Forster is yet to play a competitive game for Spurs following his summer move from Southampton, having sat on the bench for most of the season.
It would be far from ideal if he was to make his debut in such a high-pressure game.
Will Spurs win the NLD if Hugo Lloris can't play?
Yes
No
