Tottenham Hotspur face Everton on Sunday with their Premier League status on the line amid a turbulent season for a club who have not been relegated since 1977
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has been left out of the Czech Republic's latest squad as a potential injury scare before Sunday's crunch clash against Everton has been explained. The Lilywhites are fighting for their Premier League lives with Roberto De Zerbi's men just two points clear of the bottom three heading into the final game of the season.
Spurs lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Tuesday night to continue their wretched record at Stamford Bridge with just one win there in 36 years. However, top-flight survival is in their hands with a point at home to the Toffees this weekend, virtually certain to be enough due to their superior goal difference to West Ham United - who must beat Leeds to stand any chance.
Whatever happens this weekend - few will disagree that Spurs have not hugely underachieved this season. But one player who can come out of a difficult campaign with some credit is Kinsky.
The shot-stopper was substituted by then Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor during an error-strewn first-half against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League back in March.
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But the 23-year-old has recovered impressively and become a vital player for De Zerbi during the run-in after Guglielmo Vicario underwent hernia surgery.
Now, Czechia have named a 29-man squad for their international friendlies against Kosovo and Guatemala, which will be cut down to 26 for the World Cup. But Kinsky is absent from the list.
football.london understands that the goalkeeper will have a small post-season operation on a medical issue rather than anything injury-related. It means he should be fit to play on Sunday.
De Zerbi's trust in the Czech keeper was underlined in mid-week when he started him despite confirming that Vicario is his No.1 keeper.
Speaking before the Chelsea game, he said: “Vicario is available to play and I decide tomorrow.
“It’s not difficult, the decision. Vicario is number one but we have to consider the physical condition, the moment, many things. I have a big relationship with Antonin Kinsky and with Vicario as well and there will not be any problems.”
Kinsky has recently admitted to Sky Sports that he and his teammates have been boosted since De Zerbi's arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in late March.
He said: "By the way he speaks, what you read and what you hear from him is that he believes in us and that is a big message that he gives us overall: that the quality is there in the squad," says Kinsky.
"It's just not to speak about it but to show it. With the combination, with the style that he wants to play, I think our squad fits to that so I believe this is going to work.
"Now we have four points from three games, there is four left and I hope and I believe that this is the right way."