Tottenham defender Cristian Romero remains a doubt for Fulham clash

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou will not take any risks rushing Cristian Romero back into action as he aims to carefully manage the squad for battles on two fronts.

Spurs followed up their 4-0 win at Manchester City with a 2-2 draw at home to Roma in the Europa League on Thursday night, with Mats Hummels snatching an equaliser for the Italians in stoppage time.

Postecoglou had opted to make just four changes from the side which so impressed at City – one of which enforced as goalkeeper Fraser Forster came in for Guglielmo Vicario, who is facing an extended spell on the sidelines following ankle surgery.

Centre-back Romero has struggled with a toe injury over the last month and had to leave international duty with Argentina early because of the issue before he then sat out both the City game and Thursday night’s European fixture.

Defender Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and forward Richarlison are all still absent, while Rodrigo Bentancur is serving a lengthy domestic ban for his alleged racist remark about captain Son Heung-min.

Postecoglou hopes Romero will soon be back in contention, but is cautious over just when that should be as Spurs face a quick turnaround for Sunday’s visit of London rivals Fulham.

“Romero is closer (to returning), he is probably the closest,” Postecoglou said at a press conference.

“He is probably unlikely (to be involved against Fulham), but I am not ruling him out.

“He has still got to get through some things today and the session tomorrow.”

Postecoglou added: “From last night, at this stage, it is a clean bill of health – mind you, I thought that last week and then I had a guy (Vicario) in surgery an hour later.”

Spurs now sit ninth in the Europa League standings, as they chase a place in