Ange Postecoglou has revealed that Cristian Romero will miss Tottenham's game away at Manchester City on Saturday evening. Picking up a foot injury in the recent win over Aston Villa, the Spurs defender made his return to the team in the 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town just prior to the international break.
Romero did go on to represent Argentina during the break but he would only play 45 minutes in their game against Paraguay as he was forced off through injury. Reports in his homeland appeared to indicate that he made way at the break due to feeling pain in the same foot he injured against Villa.
After confirming in an interview with Sky Sports on Thursday that Romero is a doubt for the match at the Etihad Stadium, Postecoglou has revealed that it could now be next week when the 26-year-old returns to the pitch for Tottenham.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon, he said: "Romero won't be right for tomorrow's game. We're hoping he'll be right for next week. Then sort of the main ones who were out before that are still out."
Micky van de Ven will also sit out Saturday's game in Manchester as he tries to work his way back to fitness from his hamstring injury. After a few hamstring issues for the Dutchman in his short time with Tottenham, Postecoglou was asked if the club have to be careful with the player to ensure it doesn't keep happening.
"You try to treat it as it is," he admitted. "We'll get the advice from the medical team and the people working with him.
"I think there's always a natural cautiousness with somebody who has a reoccurring problem but at the same time you don't want to treat him with too many kid gloves around him because otherwise he's still go to go out there and play at some point. But it's fair to say we're taking all the appropriate steps and Micky will be a good judge of that as well and where he's at."
Another player who will not be available to face Man City is Tottenham youngster Mikey Moore. The winger was absent just prior to the international break through illness and it hit him hard.
"Yeah he was and because he's young as well, we just need to be careful with these things," revealed Postecoglou. "He's back up and about, back in the building and everything, but we'll take our time with him."
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