Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Tottenham will be withoutGuglielmo Vicario for the foreseeable future but is adamant the club will not look to sign a free agent to cover for their absent No.1 goalkeeper.
The Italy international underwent surgery earlier this week after sustaining an injury during last weekend’s landmark 4-0 win over Manchester City at the Ethiad.
‘We knew he was sore, but you kind of go ‘he’s played 60 minutes with a sore ankle, we’ll tape it up and go again,’ said the Spurs boss.
‘Externally, people now realise and it is a testament to him. He’s as tough as nails, as tough as they come. The fact he played at that level for 60 odd minutes with a fractured ankle was quite outstanding.
‘Once the shock of it wears off, the process is he’s going to be missing for a while. Knowing him, he will push the limits to how long that is and also knowing him, we’ll get daily updates about it on his Instagram. I
‘It’s a big blow, for him personally as he was having an outstanding season for us and really growing as a leader in the group, but we’ve dealt with setbacks before and we will deal with this one.’
Praising the keeper’s resiliance, he added: ‘I think externally, you know realise what we knew internally about him. It’s a reason I’ve gone and made him part of the leadership group this year, you just see the way he goes about his business on a daily basis.
‘He’s got a really strong mentality. I give the guys days off, I guarantee that he would be here doing something, he’s just that kind of person.
‘An unbelievable performance. Irrespective of the injury, it was a really strong performance for him but taking that into context, it’s certainly one for the record books for this club in outstanding performances I think.’
Initial reports, meanwhile, suggested Spurs would look to sign a free agent to add depth to their goalkeeping department, but Postecoglou insists that will not be the case and gave an emphatic vote of confidence to the veteran Fraser Forster who looks set to fill the void.
‘That’s why he’s here. Fraser played Carabao Cup, he’s played a couple of European games and that’s the reason we played him, it’s the reason we have him in the squad,’ he added. ‘He’s ready to go.’
‘It’s not going to happen,’ he said when asked about a short-term signing. ‘That’s why we’ve got a squad of players.
‘I don’t think signing a free agent helps. Me naming Fraser in the Europa League squad looks like a radical decision now doesn’t it?’
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