Vicariois due to undergo hernia surgery, butTudorhas nevertheless decided to start him in goal. This decision was partly due to the importance of the match. The game againstNottingham Forestis, in all respects, a relegation battle, given thatTottenhamare fifth from bottom with 30 points, whilst Nottingham are fourth from bottom with 29.
The manager has therefore opted to field his best goalkeeper one last time before the operation, for which the recovery time is unknown. The hope, however, is that, should Italy qualify for the World Cup, Vicario will be fit in time to be included in Gennaro Gattuso’s squad.