Tottenham suffer injury blow as Guglielmo Vicario requires hernia surgery
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will undergo hernia surgery on Monday, dealing a significant blow to the club’s Premier League survival hopes.
The 29-year-old was forced to withdraw from the latest Italy squad after struggling with the issue following Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.
Reports from Sky Sports confirm that the stopper requires an immediate operation and will likely rest for several weeks, potentially ending his season prematurely.
His extended absence arrives at the worst possible moment for interim manager Igor Tudor.
European highs and domestic lows
Spurs recently ended a dismal run of four consecutive defeats with a vital top-flight draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
That positive momentum carried over into Europe, where the North London side secured a thrilling 3-2 second-leg victory to eliminate their Spanish opposition.
However, attention must now abruptly return to their desperate fight against domestic relegation.
The team faces a crucial basement battle against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, a fixture they must navigate without their reliable first-choice shot-stopper.
International heartbreak for the Italian
The impending procedure also shatters the player’s hopes of representing his country in an upcoming World Cup playoff campaign.
Gennaro Gattuso’s national side face Northern Ireland in a high-stakes semi-final tie over the next fortnight.
If successful, the Azzurri must then overcome either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure their place at the 2026 tournament in North America.
Goalkeeping crisis looming
This medical setback creates a severe selection headache for the Tottenham coaching staff following recent tactical controversies.
Tudor boldly dropped his regular number one for Antonin Kinsky during the first leg of their European knockout tie in Madrid.
That decision backfired spectacularly when the Czech reserve was directly at fault for two goals while falling 3-0 behind in a disastrous opening 15 minutes.
The deputy was ruthlessly substituted shortly after, raising serious doubts about his readiness to step into a high-pressure Premier League six-pointer.
