Hugo Lloris is unlikely to play in Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Manchester United, Mauricio Pochettino has admitted.
The pair meet at Saturday lunchtime at Old Trafford, but the visitors may have to go into the game without their captain after Pochettino told the London Evening Standard that he is probably not fit enough to play 90 minutes.
Lloris broke his wrist last month and was expected to miss as many as four Premier League games, but the Frenchman made a surprise appearance in Spurs’ last pre-season match of the summer on Wednesday night, prompting speculation that he may play in the weekend’s curtain-raiser.
Pochettino has since quashed such claims, however, suggesting that it may be a few weeks before we see Lloris don a Tottenham shirt in the Premier League again.
“He played 35 minutes and it was fantastic to see,” the Argentinian said.
“Maybe in the next weeks he will be OK. It was very positive today to assess him, but maybe he is not ready for 90 minutes. But it’s very important he is ready to come back.”
The news means that Michael Vorm – who has made just four Premier League appearances since signing from Swansea City – will deputize on Saturday.
He has played in games against MLS All-Stars and Real Madrid this pre-season, but made a big mistake in the latter which allowed Gareth Bale a goal against his former club.
