Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is set for a spell on the sidelines after having surgery on a fractured ankle.
The 28-year-old sustained the injury during Saturday’s 4-0 Premier League win at Manchester City, though he played the whole match.
The Italy keeper, who needed treatment in the first half following a collision with City winger Savinho, says he played on with the injury for an hour.
“Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don’t expect,” Vicario wrote on social media.
“I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team. Unfortunately there was no way around this one. I needed surgery.
“I’m disappointed I won’t be able to help the team for a while.”
Spurs have not put a timescale on Vicario’s recovery and say he will be assessed by the club’s medical staff to determine when he can resume training.
The keeper has missed just four matches since joining from Empoli in June 2023 – none of them in the Premier League.
Fraser Forster, 36, has deputised on all four occasions, including a Carabao Cup win at Coventry in September and Europa League ties against AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are sixth in the Premier League after Saturday’s win over champions City at Etihad Stadium.
They are seventh in the Europa League table with three wins and one defeat from their opening four games.