Dejected: Cristian Romero
Tottenham Hotspurs Football Newsletter
De Zerbi took charge of his first game as Spurs’ new head coach at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, looking to haul his side out of the relegation zone.
They were plunged into the bottom three by West Ham’s 4-0 win over Wolves on Friday, and now after this defeat, they are two points from safety after Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
Romero had suffered an injury after a collision with stand-in goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, and the pair both required treatment.
Kinsky was able to play on after being bandaged up, with a wound visible on his head, but Romero was ruled unable to continue.
He departed the field in tears as he was replaced by Kevin Danso.
De Zerbi issued an update on his captain post-match.
“Maybe yes [it is a knee injury], but I don’t want to say anything until we know more.
“We don't know yet [the extent of the injury].
“We have to see in the next few days. I hope it's not an important problem because he's a crucial player for us.
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“A good guy, a top player, big personality, and we need him to finish the season and to achieve our goal.”
Spurs were beaten by Nordi Mukiele’s strike on Wearside, with the winner deflecting in off Romero’s central defensive partner Micky van de Ven.
Both Spurs’ central defenders were battered and bruised by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, who was the reason that both Romero and Van de Ven were booked by referee Rob Jones.