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Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will undergo hernia surgery after Sunday's game against Nottingham Forest, with his potential absence opening the door for Antonin Kinsky to return following his Atletico Madrid horror show.

Spurs confirmed on Friday that Vicario will have a "minor procedure timed to have as minimal impact on the season as possible" and "it is hoped that he could return to action within the next month".

Sky Sports News understands he is available for selection in Sunday's crunch relegation six-pointer against Forest, live on Sky Sports.

It is also understood that the 29-year-old has been playing through the pain barrier for several weeks with the issue.

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But the Italy international will face a race to be fit for Spurs' next game after Forest, which is against Sunderland on April 12, live on Sky Sports.

If Vicario fails to recover in time for that match at the Stadium of Light, then Kinsky could start after he was embarrassingly substituted after just 17 minutes in the 5-2 Champions League last 16 first-leg defeat at Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

Kinsky, who was taken off in Spain following two errors which saw Spurs go 3-0 down after just 15 minutes, failed to make this month's Czech Republic squad for their upcoming World Cup play-off campaign, meaning he will remain at Spurs for the March international break.

Vicario was also a notable absentee from the Italy squad announced on Friday for this month's international fixtures.

Spurs boss Igor Tudor faced the media later on Friday and confirmed there were no fresh injury problems, but the struggling Premier League club have now revealed Vicario's surgery ahead of Sunday's visit of 17th-placed Forest, who are only one point behind Tottenham.

What did Tudor say about Kinsky?

Last week, Tudor defended his man-management skills and revealed he hugged Kinsky after his early substitution in Madrid.

Tudor explained: "When you do that substitution after 15 minutes, the coach loses in both cases.

"First case, because you put him in so everyone says, 'why are you doing this? You killed the guy.' If you don't, you are taking risk to concede one or two more goals.

"I took the decision after thinking and if I needed to, I would do the same again. It was an act of helping to preserve the guy and to preserve the team.

"Why didn't I go to give him a hug? Because maybe he was angry. Maybe coaches do the things to avoid this scene and to get a situation worse than it was.

"Sometimes it is better to stay there and we hug each other at half-time. At half-time we speak and nothing [more], the situation happened there. It finished there."

Asked if he did give a shell-shocked Kinsky a hug at half-time, Tudor insisted: "Of course."

Tudor then backed Kinsky to have the "strength and quality" to bounce back.

Tudor: Maddison could return before end of season | 'Solanke fit for Forest'

Tudor revealed during Friday's press conference ahead of the Forest game that long-term absentee James Maddison could return from his ACL injury before the end of the season.

Maddison has not played a minute this campaign after sustaining a knee injury in pre-season.

Asked whether Maddison could return before the end of the season, he replied: "Yeah.

"Maddison's already doing interesting things with the ball, sprinting as well. I saw him, he's positive."

There was also good news regarding Dominic Solanke's availability for the match against Forest.

The striker had missed training on Friday but Tudor says he will be fit to face Forest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after he missed the midweek Champions League home win over Atletico Madrid.

The Croatian said: "Dom didn't train, but probably tomorrow he will train with the team and be available.

"He had a problem with his hip, so I think he'll be okay."

Spurs' absentee list has eased a little this week with the return of Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie from injuries, and Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur could be next to return, with Tottenham hvaing a three-week break after Sunday's Forest game.

On Kudus' return, Tudor said: "I don't know, probably some part of things with the squad in maybe 10 days.

"I'm not sure, we need to check, but he's progressing very well already with the ball.

"Rodrigo as well, Maddison as well.

"We hope the medical staff make us some nice surprises in the next weeks - it would be very important to have them."

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Tottenham bowed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 with their heads held high following a 7-5 loss on aggregate to Atletico Madrid after a spirited 3-2 win at home in the second leg.

Igor Tudor's side faced an uphill battle following a humiliating 5-2 loss at the Estadio Metropolitano in the first leg but hopes of a comeback were sparked when Randal Kolo Muani capitalised on Spurs' strong start to head them into an early lead.

Julian Alvarez's equaliser dampened a crackling atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but a quickfire response from Xavi Simons, curling his effort in five minutes after his team conceded, restored belief for the home side once more.

As it happened | Teams | Stats

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Atletico goalkeeper Julian Musso was called upon a total of eight times to keep Spurs at bay as they pushed to reduce the deficit, until a glancing header from David Hancko sealed Spurs' fate.

Xavi would go on to double his tally with a late penalty to secure the win on the evening, Tudor's first as head coach of the club, but a chaotic first 20 minutes in the first leg ultimately left them with too much to do.

The performance, albeit short of what the club needed to progress into a quarter-final tie against Barcelona, is one Spurs can take confidence from.

Despite injury concerns mounting, a relegation battle bubbling away in the background and noise surrounding Tudor's future at the club ever present, the home side threatened, competed and entertained from the first whistle.

"A step in the right direction," was how Tudor described the point at Anfield on Sunday in his programme notes. Wednesday night was another one for his side.

Spurs will now be tasked with taking the same traits into Sunday's game against Nottingham Forest, who sit one point below them in the Premier League, in what could prove to be a decisive fixture in the race for survival in the top flight.

Tudor: A very good performance - I thank the fans

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor speaking to TNT Sports:

"The feelings are mixed of course. We are out, but it is a sensation of a very good team on the pitch. One very good performance from a lot of players.

"It was really nice that the fans recognised that the team did everything they could do. They were with us from the start and I thank them for that. It is a good direction as a team but we need to continue.

"It was important [to get the winning feeling back]. That is why I was angry about the counter-attack in the last minute. I understand the players, they wanted to score a goal.

"It was nice to at least take the victory."

Vicario: We fought hard against Atletico

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario speaking to TNT Sports:

"We fought hard. We did a lot of running - l think we are in a better physical place, we kept running until the last second.

"We need to show everything we can in the next game.

"Tonight was a game of moments. We were close to going over the edge. We had situations in the first half and we could have gone into the break 2-0.

"There are a lot of positives to take from every aspect and everyone. We showed what we need to show in every game.

"It gives us a lot of confidence and we are proud of what we did."

Spurs need to replicate Atletico performance vs Forest

Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:

Tudor described Sunday's 1-1 draw against Liverpool as a step in the right direction - and so was this game

A first win since January and a first win for the head coach since being appointed as Thomas Frank's successor.

Yes, it was not enough to overcome the disaster that was the first leg but this was the exact performance Spurs needed ahead of Sunday's game against Nottingham Forest.

A spirited and attacking performance with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium bubbling from minute one.

Play like that on Sunday with the home crowd on their side, alongside the returns of Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero, and Spurs will give themselves every chance of securing a crucial win in the fight for survival.

It was not enough against Atletico but that performance could have a major influence on where this team finishes up come the end of the season.

Story of the match in stats...

Quarter-final draw in full

"Sunday is one of the biggest games Tottenham have played. This is the club's future on the line."

Paul Merson is well aware of how significant Tottenham's game against Nottingham Forest is for their chances of survival in the Premier League. Igor Tudor and his squad know it too.

Two sides separated by one point, hovering above the relegation zone, with the threat of dropping into the second tier looming large over clubs who should be pillars of the top-flight.

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Why is the game so important?

"If they get relegated, I don't know if they are coming back. Everyone will want to beat Tottenham," Merson continued while speaking on The Premier League Show.

"I put this game as big as the European game against Manchester United [last May]."

A total of 20 defeats across all competitions have followed since that famous night in Bilbao, with 14 of them in the league. A dangerous spiral, which has now converted relegation fears into a harsh reality.

A win for Forest would mean they leapfrog Spurs in the table and if West Ham win at Aston Villa, the Europa League holders would drop into the bottom three.

The odds of the unthinkable for Spurs currently sit at 12.3 per cent with Opta's supercomputer, following previous highs of 18 per cent before Tudor's Tottenham showed signs of taking shape.

For the first time in a long time, Spurs have a foundation to build on and a chance to create some breathing room.

Richarlison's late equaliser to rescue a point at Anfield and a spirited performance to beat Atletico in the Champions League in midweek, albeit not enough to progress to the quarter-finals, have sparked a degree of hope and optimism from the stands at a pivotal time in their season.

A first win for Tudor on Wednesday and only their second taste of victory since the New Year is a timely boost, but the club will now be tasked with carrying that fragile momentum into what can only be described as a cup final-calibre game.

Can the home crowd have an impact again?

The stadium played a major role in the win on Wednesday. The home crowd rallied behind their players and the injury-laden squad responded to it.

Randal Kolo Muani took his chance well, Mathys Tel threatened throughout, Radu Dragusin looked solid on his first Champions League outing for the team and Xavi Simons looked confident both on the ball and in front of goal.

"I believe the supporters were proud of the team even if we are out," said Tudor after their European exit. "We hope this continues on Sunday because we need them for an important game."

Players responded to the reception and they need to feed off their supporters more than ever against Forest. This, coupled with performances that suggest Spurs can overcome pressure and scrutiny, can inspire on the day.

Coming off six defeats in a row, including the humiliating 5-2 loss to Atletico in the first leg of their European tie, no one expected them to take points from Liverpool. Even less expected was a comeback draw against Manchester City earlier in February - but Forest also did that.

Spurs come into the game against Forest, live on Sky Sports, as favourites to take three points and anything less should be deemed unacceptable in what could prove to be a decisive game in the battle for survival.

A dismal home record in the Premier League, the worst out of all 20 teams after winning just two games and taking 10 points this season, will need to be swept aside.

A poor record against teams currently in the bottom half of the table adds to that pressure. In those 13 games, Spurs have the fourth-lowest points per game tally at just 1.23, winning four, drawing four and losing five.

Losses to Crystal Palace, Fulham, West Ham and Forest, as well as draws against Burnley and Sunderland, are included in that list but Sunday's game is not one they can afford to add to it.

To defy what their record and the numbers suggest, Spurs need the crowd.

Aside from the crowd, what else will boost Spurs?

Selection headaches are a problem for most managers but a welcome and new one for a Spurs boss to encounter.

The injury problems at the club have been well documented, an issue that has transcended both seasons and head coaches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But those problems are easing for Tudor and for the first time since his appointment on February 14, he now has options to turn to.

Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero all returned for the win against Atletico.

Romero started the fixture after recovering from concussion, while the remaining two players appeared off the bench. Conor Gallagher was also able to feature in the latter stages after recovering from illness.

Tudor has stumbled across success with the 4-4-2 formation, rooted by the budding partnership of Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr in midfield.

With Micky van de Ven and Romero at the heart of the defence and Dominic Solanke potentially returning from a small problem that kept him out against Atletico, Spurs have the makings of a spine to a team that has largely been spineless throughout a troubled season.

The foundation Spurs' small resurgence has been built on

The previously noted resurgence in the last two games contained changes at centre back, up front and out wide - but there was one constant outfield. The partnership of Gray and Sarr in the middle of the park.

Despite Gallagher and Bergvall returning, you would expect to see the same duo of Gray and Sarr on Sunday.

The former was given a standing ovation from the home crowd on Wednesday and Atletico midfielder Marcus Llorente echoed that statement after running over to Gray to shake his hand following his outstanding performance against a notoriously tricky side.

The 20-year-old recorded 57 touches, a passing accuracy of 88 per cent, one assist and two chances created on the night. It was an all-encompassing display that justifies the £40m the club parted with to sign him from Leeds United in 2024.

Sarr followed closely as his partner in midfield with added defensive support, making two clearances, two blocks, three interceptions and one tackle. A complimentary duo which fans should expect and want to see more of.

Often used out of position as a means of easing the strains crippling the squad, Gray is now shining in his favoured position and his head coach is taking notice of the partnership forming with Sarr.

"He's a guy, you know the positions he plays everywhere, so probably this position in the middle is, I believe, the best one for him," Tudor said.

"But he's playing continually in the right way, in a good way. It's a mix of quality, physically and mentally, to always make the right choices and be humble and have legs to do so.

"He needs to continue this; he's still young, so every day he needs a new confirmation [of what he can do].

"Together with Pape, I see them very well; there's a quality between these two players. The last two games, they really made a difference."

The foundation is fragile but Spurs cannot afford to squander the opportunity to build on it.

A six-pointer, must-win, 'cup final' or crucial game. However you want to describe it, three points is the only sufficient outcome for a team that should never have found themselves in this position anyway.

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Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven has described reports suggesting the players have stopped caring amid a Premier League relegation fight as 'the biggest nonsense.'

The Netherlands international was suspended as Spurs picked up their first point under Igor Tudor with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday, which leaves them just one point clear of 18th-placed West Ham.

Spurs now turn their attentions back to the Champions League as they face the seemingly insurmountable task of overturning a three-goal deficit after their 5-2 first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the last-16 tie.

Speaking ahead of the game, Van de Ven took issue with the notion he and his team-mates had already switched off.

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"Of course I've seen things [written]," Van de Ven stated.

"Reporters just say things sometimes and it's like 'how did you come up with this?' Like, the players have switched off. It's not true.

"They say players are going to leave either way. It's just nonsense and it's only a problem when people start believing it. It's just the biggest nonsense.

"Sometimes we read things by ourselves and are like 'what is this?' The other day we read something about one guy who is going to leave and doesn't care what happens. We are just reading this like 'how did this come out?'

"It brings so much more trouble because fans are starting to believe this.

"All the people involved care so much about the situation we're in. That's the most important thing right now. Then if some reports come out saying that guys don't care anymore, it's just frustrating for our guys.

"For me it's frustrating because people start thinking about me in a different way. I just want to stay fit and turn things around. I know the last games haven't been my best. The most important thing is that I give 100 per cent to this club."

'The players really care' insists Tudor

While Sunday's draw at Anfield may have given Tudor his first point as Tottenham head coach, he is still in search of his first win in charge.

With Van de Ven insinuating the visit of Atletico was a free hit given Spurs' position in the tie, Tudor is hopeful the performance against Liverpool could lead to more confidence ahead of a must-win bottom-of-the-table clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

"Of course, it's important," the former Juventus and Croatia centre-back said. "When you have one good performance, it gives confidence to everyone. It confirms the good will.

"The players really care. At the moment it is so difficult. I believe one good moment happened last game. We have to be honest with what we can give on the pitch. I am happy for everyone and now we have to continue."

Actions speak louder than Van de Ven's Words

Analysis from Sky Sports' Callum Bishop:

It's very easy to come out and speak with fire and passion straight after the first time that same energy has been displayed for all to see on the pitch in months.

With or without Van de Ven, what fans saw from Tottenham against Liverpool was a spirit that arguably hasn't been seen since the comeback draw against Manchester City at the beginning of February. Ironically, that was the last domestic game Spurs hadn't lost before the trip to Anfield.

It's not to say that Van de Ven's comments about his team-mates' attitude to the current predicament are wrong. They are probably affected by it. But as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

The level of performances before Liverpool were what created the impression that there is a sense of entitlement around some of the players. When Van de Ven and Cristian Romero, two of the most important figures in Igor Tudor's team, are getting sent off during moments where they are needed, it could be taken in a couple of ways.

One is that they are showing fight and it has spilled over. The other is that they are showing petulance and shirking some of the responsibility because they are now unavailable for the next game. After all, availability is the best ability. While injuries cannot be helped, actions like this are what lead people to question how much certain players care.

Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven has described reports suggesting the players have stopped caring amid a Premier League relegation fight as 'the biggest nonsense.'

The Netherlands international was suspended as Spurs picked up their first point under Igor Tudor with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday, which leaves them just one point clear of 18th-placed West Ham.

Spurs now turn their attentions back to the Champions League as they face the seemingly insurmountable task of overturning a three-goal deficit after their 5-2 first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the last-16 tie.

Speaking ahead of the game, Van de Ven took issue with the notion he and his team-mates had already switched off.

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"Of course I've seen things [written]," Van de Ven stated.

"Reporters just say things sometimes and it's like 'how did you come up with this?' Like, the players have switched off. It's not true.

"They say players are going to leave either way. It's just nonsense and it's only a problem when people start believing it. It's just the biggest nonsense.

"Sometimes we read things by ourselves and are like 'what is this?' The other day we read something about one guy who is going to leave and doesn't care what happens. We are just reading this like 'how did this come out?'

"It brings so much more trouble because fans are starting to believe this.

"All the people involved care so much about the situation we're in. That's the most important thing right now. Then if some reports come out saying that guys don't care anymore, it's just frustrating for our guys.

"For me it's frustrating because people start thinking about me in a different way. I just want to stay fit and turn things around. I know the last games haven't been my best. The most important thing is that I give 100 per cent to this club."

'The players really care' insists Tudor

While Sunday's draw at Anfield may have given Tudor his first point as Tottenham head coach, he is still in search of his first win in charge.

With Van de Ven insinuating the visit of Atletico was a free hit given Spurs' position in the tie, Tudor is hopeful the performance against Liverpool could lead to more confidence ahead of a must-win bottom-of-the-table clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

"Of course, it's important," the former Juventus and Croatia centre-back said. "When you have one good performance, it gives confidence to everyone. It confirms the good will.

"The players really care. At the moment it is so difficult. I believe one good moment happened last game. We have to be honest with what we can give on the pitch. I am happy for everyone and now we have to continue."

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