Glenn Hoddle believes Fraser Forster now has an opportunity to be a ‘hero’ for Tottenham Hotspur. He backs the goalkeeper to deliver under Antonio Conte after Hugo Lloris’ injury.
Spurs are facing up to eight weeks without Lloris as the 36-year-old sustained a knee injury against Manchester City. The veteran shot-stopper picked up ligament damage following a challenge in the closing stages of a 1-0 win. Forster would then start away to Leicester City.
But Conte would not oversee a win at the King Power Stadium, despite Rodrigo Bentancur giving Spurs the lead. Leicester responded to win 4-1 last Saturday in only Forster’s second Premier League game this term. He also played their 2-2 draw at Brentford on Boxing Day.
Conte has seldom fielded Forster since Tottenham signed the 34-year-old as a free agent in June upon leaving Southampton. The six-cap ex-England goalkeeper also played Spurs’ EFL Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest and their FA Cup ties with Portsmouth and Preston.
Now, Conte must give Forster just his sixth appearance of the season so far as Tottenham visit AC Milan. Spurs travel to San Siro on Tuesday night in the first-leg of their Champions League last 16 meeting. They then host rivals West Ham United and Chelsea in the league.
Hoddle now backs Forster to cover for Lloris after his injury at Tottenham
Lloris had only missed Tottenham’s draw with Brentford in the Premier League this season before his injury. Conte rested the 145-cap former France captain at the Bees after losing in the World Cup final only a week before. But the Italian must now rely on Forster to perform.
Forster has never played in the Champions League ahead of facing AC Milan for Tottenham on Tuesday. But he has played 20 Europa League ties in his career with 14 for Celtic and six for Southampton. The Hexham-born star also kept four clean sheets to 21 goals conceded.
Additionally, Forster has 304 top-flight appearances through his career between stints with Newcastle United, Celtic, Southampton and now Tottenham. He has further kept 135 clean sheets to 284 goals conceded. So, Hoddle backs Forster to cover for Lloris with Tottenham.
“It’s a lot of pressure now on him,” Hoddle told talkSPORT. “He has got a lot of experience under his belt, there’s no doubt about it. It’s not like we’re relying now on a youngster that they fancy for the future and you now have to throw him in.
“Lloris, recently, hasn’t been playing [at] his very, very best. So, you know, it’s now an opportunity for somebody else to come in and the Frost has got an opportunity here to really be a bit of a hero this season if he comes in and does really well.
“So, I’m shocked and surprised about the injury but a little bit of comfort there because he’s not a kid. He’s got experience behind him. It’s not as bad as it might have been.”
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