Newcastle United are competing with Tottenham Hotspur to finish in the top four, and Antonio Conte’s side have just suffered a major injury blow.
According to Sky Sports, Spurs are going to be without their first choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for between six and eight weeks due to a knee injury.
Conte could now be without his captain for the next two months, which means he will not be able to select the World Cup winner in their upcoming Champions League games against AC Milan.
It also means that he will miss vital Premier League matches, with Spurs very much in the race to finish in the top four.
They were able to close the gap this past weekend after they beat Manchester City 1-0 thanks to Harry Kane’s record-breaking goal. Combine that with Newcastle’s draw against West Ham and it means that just one point separates the two sides.
Eddie Howe’s men are still in the driving seat, but have Tottenham breathing down their necks as we move into the second half of the season.
Injury blow means Tottenham could be without Hugo Lloris for eight weeks
Conte will have been confident that his side can hunt Newcastle down, but losing his goalkeeper is a big blow. If Lloris is out for the full eight weeks, it will mean he is out of action until early April. Between now and then, Spurs have seven Premier League games.
In Lloris’ place will be Fraser Forster, a former Newcastle United academy player. He came through the ranks at St James’ Park, but never got the chance to make a competitive appearance for the Magpies.
The Hexham-born stopper signed for Spurs in the summer, and will now have the chance to play regular minutes in the Premier League.
Losing Lloris looks like a major blow for Tottenham. However, his recent form might suggest the opposite, as he has massively struggled in between the sticks. Newcastle saw that firsthand earlier this season, with the 36-year-old’s error handing Callum Wilson a goal in a 2-1 win back in October.
Only time will tell if it gives Newcastle an edge in the race to secure Champions League qualification.
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