Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has conceded that Cristian Romero will not be available until 2022 due to injury.
The Argentine suffered a serious hamstring injury during the most recent international break and missed subsequent clashes with Leeds United and NS Mura.
Conte has not been able to deliver any positive updates on Romero since his injury, and the Spurs boss is now braced for a couple of months without the 23-year-old in the heart of defence.
"The news is not positive, not good. Because the injury is serious and I think it will take time before to see him again. Surely next year and we need to check his injury week by week but the injury is serious," Conte told reporters, as quoted by football.london.
"Now he is trying to recover, he needs a long time. He needs time to recover. It's a pity because he's an important player for us, but the injury is very serious.
"January, February I don't know but 2021 is finished to play. We have to wait to recover well, but the injury is serious."
Romero has made 13 appearances in all competitions for Spurs since arriving on loan from Atalanta BC over the summer, including six starts in the Premier League.
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