Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly assessing Cristiano Romero and Richarlison ahead of Thursday’s Premier League game at Brighton.
The duo had to leave the game during Spurs’ hard-fought 2-1 win over Everton with hamstring and back injuries.
A third consecutive win ensured Tottenham will spend Christmas Day among the top four, but Romero and Richarlison have caused boss Angelo Postecoglou more fitness concerns.
On Romero, Postecoglou revealed, “Just before half-time he felt fatigue in his thigh, so we had to take him off.”
The prognosis for Richarlison was better after the striker continued his excellent form on Saturday with his fourth goal in three games.
The Spurs had a check-up on the South American duo on Sunday before the players return to training on Boxing Day after having the day off for Christmas.
Cristian Romero is expected to be fit for #Tottenham’s away clash at Brighton, although he has been substituted with a tight hamstring. [@standardsport]
“Yeah, Richy is fine. He had a bit of a sore back in training (on Friday),” Postecoglou added.
“He wasn’t 100 per cent but he wanted to start. He played the game, it’s pleasing for him that he took the goal well and worked hard for us, but I kind of knew that at some point I would have to take him down.
“I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
Tottenham will be hoping all is well with Richarlison, especially with top scorer Son Heung-min leaving for international duty in January.
Son scored his 11th goal of the campaign in the win over Everton, bettering his tally from the 2022-23 season when he was struggling with a sports hernia that only had surgery in May.
Richarlison underwent the same procedure last month and has been backed to continue to flourish now that he has resolved the problem.
Spurs captain Son told PLP: “Richarlison went through a similar thing to what I had last season.
“He is always hungry for goals and work. He’s playing pain-free and he looks completely different as a player, so I’m very happy for him.
“If he continues like this, he can become one of the best strikers in the Premier League.”
Postecoglou’s charges could consider themselves lucky to have taken all three points as Everton set them a tough test.
While Spurs led 2-0 inside 18 minutes, Sean Dyche’s side created numerous chances, with home goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario denying shots from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jack Harrison, James Garner and Arnaut Danjuma.
Everton also had the ball in the net in the 51st minute through Calvert-Lewin, but referee Stuart Attwell ruled out the attempt after VAR instructed him to review an incident in which Andre Gomes was adjudged to have fouled Emerson Roy in the build-up.
Toffees defender Jarrad Branthwaite told the club’s official website, “It was never a foul in my eyes.
“It was shown on the big screen and I think everyone saw it. When he (the referee) steps on the monitor he will give it. It was never a foul and it just ruins the game. In my opinion, the goal should have been clear.
“He didn’t win the ball but he didn’t touch the man and he just fell. It’s one of those things and there’s nothing we can do now.”