Hugo Lloris to Face Late Fitness Test Ahead of Chelsea Clash

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday's meeting with Chelsea.

The Frenchman sat out the 4-0 win over Ludogorets on Thursday alongside Giovani Lo Celso, Steven Bergwijn, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela, but Jose Mourinho had been hopeful that most of that group would be fit in time to face his former employers.

According to football.london, Lloris fell ill on Wednesday night ahead of the game against Ludogorets, and a decision is yet to be made over whether he has recovered enough to return on Sunday.

The club captain will face a late fitness test to see whether he is ready to play or whether Mourinho will have to give summer signing Joe Hart his first Premier League appearance for his new side.

Fortunately for Spurs, it's not all doom and gloom. While Alderweireld and Lamela remain sidelined, both Lo Celso and Bergwijn are expected to be back in contention after recovering from minor issues, while right-back Matt Doherty could also feature after testing negative for COVID-19.

However, all eyes will be on Mourinho's selection at centre-back. With Alderweireld sidelined, the boss must make a decision over who will partner Eric Dier at the heart of Spurs' defence.

Welshman Joe Rodon has been the first reserve in the Premier League this season, but it was Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga who featured against Ludogorets on Thursday.

Sanchez has failed to make any of the last four matchday squads in the league, while Tanganga is seen primarily as a full-back, so all the signs suggest 23-year-old Rodon will make his first Premier League start on Sunday.

With Liverpool dropping points against Brighton on Saturday, both Chelsea and Tottenham will have the chance to move to the top of the league table. A point would be enough for Spurs, whereas Frank Lampard's side would need all three points.

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