Kelly Cates, Joe Hart and Danny Murphy discuss why Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is “the favourite” to be in the starting XI for England in this summer’s World Cup.
WATCH MORE: Forest win sinks Tottenham closer to relegation danger
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Antonin Kinsky is set to return at Tottenham‘s goalkeeper once first-choice Guglielmo Vicario has hernia surgery following the Premier League game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Spurs interim boss Igor Tudor controversially replaced Kinsky with Vicario in the 17th minute of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid on 10 March – which they lost 5-2 – after he conceded three goals.
The 23-year-old was consoled by several team-mates, including Vicario, as he made his way off the field.
Vicario has been dealing with the hernia problem for several matches but remains in contention to start in the crucial game at home against Forest.
The other option for Tudor is third-choice goalkeeper Brandon Austin, 27, who came through the club’s youth system and has made three senior appearances.
Tottenham said Italy international Vicario will undergo “a minor procedure” next week and hope to have him fit again by April.
The club said the operation had been “timed” for the international break in order to “have as minimal impact as possible”.
“Guglielmo will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately, and it is hoped that he could return to action within the next month,” added a statement from Spurs.
Kinsky and Austin have both been on the Tottenham bench for their past two games – a 1-1 draw at Liverpool in the Premier League and a 3-2 win over Atletico in the second leg of their Champions League tie.
While the Europa League will continue to offer respite from an otherwise difficult season for Forest, the additional games present challenges.
Forest will take on Porto in the quarter-final on 9 and 16 April, welcome Aston Villa to the City Ground in between the two legs and then host Burnley the following weekend.
Winning games means positive momentum and that can only be a help when it comes to fighting to stay in the league.
But it also means more games and Pereira, who is set to take charge in his first European quarter-final, must find the balance between keeping his side in the top flight and managing the demands of competing in Europe.
“When we win it’s different,” Pereira said.
“The spirit is different, the energy is different and the boys deserve it because they are a fantastic group, very good players and with team spirit, character – we showed everything today.
“I don’t have any doubt that we have the quality and we will compete to achieve our targets.”
Yates added: “That winning feeling is special, you want to keep that momentum going.
“Momentum at this stage of the season is huge. We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. Recover now, focus on Tottenham now and keep building, keep getting those wins.
“It’s not over yet, we’re still dreaming.”