Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a fresh injury scare over Cristian Romero ahead of their return to Premier League action against Fulham on Monday night.
The Argentina international has formed a strong bond with Micky van de Ven in the Spurs backline this season, starting eight Premier League matches and scoring two goals.
Romero has played the full 90 minutes in all but one of the Lilywhites' top-flight games under Ange Postecoglou, helping his side keep three clean sheets during their unbeaten start.
Romero's exploits in North London have also seen him nail down a regular starting role for World Cup holders Argentina, and he played the full 90 in a 1-0 World Cup 2026 qualifying win over Paraguay last Friday.
The 25-year-old held his place alongside Nicolas Otamendi for Tuesday's battle with Peru, but he was forced off during the half-time break, having fallen victim to a crunching challenge from Paolo Guerrero.
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Real Betis' German Pezzella came on in his place as La Albiceleste saw out a comfortable 2-0 win - thanks to a Lionel Messi brace - to remain perfect in World Cup qualifying.
However, concern soon turned to Romero, who managed to soldier on for the entirety of the first half, but he was then seen with ice on his ankle following his withdrawal.
A report from The Athletic states that Romero is suffering from an ankle issue and will be assessed once he returns to North London, but he does not appear to have sustained a severe injury.
As a result, the former Atalanta BC man is supposedly confident that he will recover in time for the visit of Fulham, given that he has five days to recuperate from the knock.
Should Romero's issue prove more severe than first thought, Eric Dier is waiting in the wings, and Postecoglou also has 18-year-old Ashley Phillips available to partner the impressive Van de Ven.
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Tottenham are already being made to cope without a number of surgical victims, as Rodrigo Bentancur (knee) and Ryan Sessegnon (thigh) are yet to earn any minutes in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Lilywhites have also lost Ivan Perisic to a crushing ACL injury, while Manor Solomon and backup goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman are also rehabilitating from knee and ankle operations respectively.
In addition, Brennan Johnson was left out of the Wales squad for October's internationals due to his hamstring problem, and it is unclear whether the attacker will be fit for Monday's London derby, where midfield fulcrum Yves Bissouma will miss out through suspension.
The Mali international - who has been given a new lease of life under Postecoglou - was sent off for two bookable offences against Luton Town, and his absence could open the door for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or Oliver Skipp to come back into the XI.
Tottenham have amassed 20 points from their opening eight games of the 2023-24 Premier League season to sit top of the table, above North London rivals Arsenal on goals scored.
Ben Knapton
