Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was replaced by Kevin Danso in Spurs’ starting line-up after suffering an injury during the warm-up ahead of the Premier League clash with Aston Villa, which the Villans won 2-1. Romero missed a huge chunk of last season due to injury and it’s another major headache for Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who is already without a number of senior players on the long-term injured list.
Getty Images SportPre-match blow for Romero
Spurs came into the home clash with Villa knowing victory would take them into second spot in the Premier league, but there was bad news before a ball had been kicked after it emerged that the Spurs captain had suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up. Tottenham were forced into making a change, and Austria international Danso was a late call-up. Spurs took an early lead through Rodrigo Bentancur, but Morgan Rogers fired a stunning equaliser and Emi Buendia sealed the points for the Villans.
AdvertisementAFPInjuries mount up for Frank
Tottenham's injuries continue to pile up and have impacted key players across all positions. The midfield has suffered significantly, with playmaker James Maddison rupturing his ACL during pre-season, sidelining him for the majority of the campaign, and he is joined by Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma, who have also spent extended periods out with knee and ankle injuries, respectively. The defence has been particularly hard hit in recent times, with the first-choice central defensive pairing of Romero and Micky van de Ven both missing a large portion of last season, while Radu Dragusin also suffered a long-term ACL injury, but is expected back soon. And striker Dominic Solanke is recovering following ankle surgery earlier this month.
Plenty of confidence in head coach
Romero was named club captain before the start of the season, following the departure of Son Heung-min. And he revealed just how much he's enjoying the changes made under new boss Frank, while also reaffirming his commitment to the club. He said: "I always want the best for the club. Sometimes, things have been said that aren't true as well, but always everything I said is because I want there to be a structure of a club that can be at the top level, part of the big clubs. That's why I was sometimes so angry before, but today I see a very, very organised club with a clear idea and a coach who is organising things and everyone is seeing that in a short space of time we are with him and that’s it. Absolutely everyone inside is looking in the same direction and that is the important thing. I see a fantastic group, a coach, who leaves us with a clear idea. The group is very happy and we have to go game by game but I believe we can achieve great things. We hope and we are going to fight to lift another trophy."
Getty Images SportRomero fully committed to Spurs
Rumours swirled all summer that the World Cup winner wanted to leave with Atletico Madrid his preferred destination. But he told reporters ahead of the Champions League clash with Villarreal last month: "I never said I wanted to leave the club. Nothing came from me in that effect. It is important what the manager and president say. I am very happy here, it is like a family. I like the manager. I like the way we work, the way we train. Always things can improve but I think everyone here at all levels are taking the right steps to improve. I am very happy here."
Romero will be needed back in a rush for Spurs, whose schedule is packed in the coming weeks as they face Everton in the league and Newcastle in the League Cup before attention to turns to a London derby clash with Chelsea on November 1.