Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Cristian Stellini has confirmed that Hugo Lloris will be out for five to seven weeks with a knee injury.
The Spurs captain suffered ligament damage near the end of last Sunday’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, and reports suggested that he could be out for up to eight weeks.
Tottenham are hoping that Lloris will not need surgery, but he will miss a string of important games, including both legs of their Champions League last-16 clash against AC Milan.
Lloris will make his first appearance on the sidelines against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, and Stellini addressed the media at Thursday’s pre-game press conference.
Stellini, who is filling in for Antonio Conte as he recovers from gallbladder surgery, admitted that the entire squad was “disappointed” by Lloris’ injury, but he believes Fraser Forster will step up.
Forster has started all three of Tottenham’s FA Cup and EFL Cup games this season, and he filled in for Lloris during Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Brentford in the Premier League on Boxing Day after the World Cup.
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While Stellini was still on press duty on Thursday, Conte returned to the training ground and oversaw practise after flying back to the UK from Italy on Wednesday.
“We are all disappointed about Hugo. We trust in Fraser.”
🗣 Cristian Stellini gives a team news update ahead of #LEITOT… pic.twitter.com/YIfY3h9vvQ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 9, 2023
The Italian had his gallbladder removed after experiencing “severe abdominal pain” after Spurs’ FA Cup win over Preston North End in January, and he called his players to congratulate them after their win over Man City.
Tottenham currently sits fifth in the Premier League table, but a win over Leicester will move them into the top four before Newcastle United face Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
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