Tottenham will be minus another 'important' player for Brighton's visit to north London this weekend, according to Roberto De Zerbi.
Spurs braced for relegation six-pointer against De Zerbi's old side
De Zerbi needs a win, and fast.
One Spurs defeat is already on the Italian's record, and now a home game against his former club awaits - one that could define whether Tottenham's season is salvageable or already gone.
Brighton arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday as one of the Premier League's in-form sides, and the numbers make uncomfortable reading for the hosts.
Spurs have gone 14 Premier League games without a win — the second-longest such run in the club's entire history. Only Derby in 2008, Sunderland in 2003, and Swindon in 1993 had longer winless runs to start a calendar year in the top flight — and all three were relegated. (The Analyst).
Fabian Hürzeler's side have no incentive to take their foot off the gas, and they rarely do.
They have scored 14 goals across their last five meetings with Spurs and won three of those five — a record that will do little to settle nerves in north London.
There is some relief when it comes to the teamsheet, though.
De Zerbi confirmed Yves Bissouma is fully fit after the midfielder had to settle for a place on the bench at the Stadium of Light, while Rodrigo Bentancur is in contention after returning to training this week, even if a start may come too soon.
Then comes the bad news, alongside the announcement that Romero will miss the rest of the season with fellow star Mohammed Kudus.
De Zerbi confirms Tottenham's Guglielmo Vicario will miss Brighton
The Spurs boss confirmed that Guglielmo Vicario will not be available, with the goalkeeper continuing his recovery from hernia surgery undertaken during the international break.
"Bentancur is available to play, I don't know if he starts the game or not," De Zerbi said in his press conference today.
"Bissouma is available 100% more than Sunderland game (where Yves was an unused substitute).
"But Vicario, no.
"Vicario is another top guy. I'm looking forward to work with him. Kinsky played very well against Sunderland, but Vicario is another important player for us — big experience, big character and personality.”
The situation is complicated further by reports emerging from Italy this week.
Inter Milan are said to be closing in on a deal to sign Vicario, with personal terms already understood to be in place, so whether he remains a Spurs player beyond the summer is suddenly a very live question.
In his absence, Kinsky deputises again.
The Czech stopper was one of Tottenham's best performers against Sunderland, commanding his area and staying composed throughout despite the defeat.
His first-half save to deny Brian Brobbey at close range was the pick of the moments, and De Zerbi acknowledged as much.
It was the 23-year-old's first league appearance of the entire season, making the display all the more encouraging.
The performance will give the young keeper confidence. But for Tottenham, confidence alone will not be enough.
They need three points, a result that proves the De Zerbi appointment is more than a last roll of the dice. With six games left and the drop looming large, Saturday is as close to a final as a league fixture gets.