Mark Schwarzer believes the injury that Tottenham Hotspur star Hugo Lloris has sustained might be a blessing in disguise. The goalkeeper is likely to miss the next six to eight weeks.
The 36-year-old damaged ligaments in his knee during Spurs’ 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday. He took a knock following a challenge in the closing stages but was able to play the full 90 minutes. Tottenham also do not expect the shot-stopper to require any surgery.
Fraser Forster will now deputise for Lloris when Tottenham visit Leicester City on Saturday. Antonio Conte will likely need to lean on the 34-year-old for further Premier League games against West Ham United, Chelsea, Wolves and Nottingham Forest over the coming weeks.
Lloris will also miss Tottenham’s Champions League Round of 16 ties with AC Milan. But he could return for the FA Cup quarter-finals in March if Spurs first edge Sheffield United. The Blades host the north London club in the fifth round after winning a replay with Wrexham.
Conte has only rested Lloris in one Premier League match so far this season. He sat the ex-France captain out at Brentford on Boxing Day having lost in the World Cup final one week earlier. Lloris has also kept seven clean sheets to 29 goals conceded in his 21 appearances.
Schwarzer feels Lloris’ injury can be a blessing in disguise for the Tottenham star
But Schwarzer feels Lloris’ injury may now be a blessing in disguise for the Tottenham star. The former Fulham goalie notes how the Spurs skipper admitted after his mistakes against Arsenal and Manchester City to being short of ‘mental freshness’ following the World Cup.
“In a nutshell, yes,” Schwarzer told Sky Sports. “He had the disappointment of not winning it, losing in the final and he mentioned something not so long ago about the pressure and the disappointment of losing the final, and how much it has weighed on him.
“He’s come back almost straight away into a Tottenham side and he’s made mistakes. The spotlight is very much on him again. There have been question marks about his longevity at the club and whether he is still able to play at this level. All these little things play a part.
“They take a toll on you. To be out for six to eight weeks is not great for any player. It’s not the best situation but for Lloris to be out of the spotlight, now, it may be a good thing. It may give him a chance to let things settle down a bit and to digest the disappointment.”
Lloris was culpable for the opening goal as Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-0 having spilt Bukayo Saka’s cross over the line. Spurs’ £13m transfer from Lyon in 2012 then flapped at a loose ball for Manchester City’s first goal. Tottenham had led 2-0 at the time but would lose 4-2.
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