Tottenham's potential surprise for the Roma clash in the Europa League | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to give a goalkeeper a significant opportunity in their Europa League match against Roma on Thursday.

Tottenham are in sixth place in the Premier League, having had an up-and-down season so far, filled with some great performances but also a number of injuries.

Vicario’s injury came as a shock after it was revealed that the Italian goalkeeper played 60 minutes in Tottenham’s impressive 4-0 win over Manchester City despite suffering a broken ankle.

Tottenham's potential surprise for the Roma clash in the Europa League

Exeter City v Tottenham Hotspur U21 - Bristol Street Motors Trophy / Michael Steele/GettyImages

Following surgery, Vicario will be sidelined for some time, creating a vacancy in Spurs’ starting lineup.

This has led to speculation that Fraser Forster, the club's backup goalkeeper, will take over, but there’s also the possibility that Luca Gunter, who has been impressing in the youth ranks, could be handed his first-team debut.

According to information gathered by Tottenham News, the 19-year-old has been training with the first-team squad, and he may be called upon to make his debut for the senior team, replacing Vicario, who has been forced to undergo surgery.

Gunter has long been regarded as one of Tottenham’s brightest young talents.

Last season, he played a pivotal role in the Tottenham Under-21 team’s victory in the Premier League 2 title, while the year before, he captained the Under-17 and Under-18 teams to a Premier League Cup double.

His development has been closely monitored by Spurs, and this injury crisis could provide him with the chance to showcase his abilities on the continental stage.

Although Forster remains the most experienced option, Gunter’s rise through the youth system has made him an exciting prospect for the club.

Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman, both of whom are also part of the goalkeeping setup, are still relatively untested at the highest level, meaning Postecoglou might look to Gunter to provide fresh energy and confidence.

Gunter could seize the opportunity to impress

Tottenham could draw inspiration from the example set by Liverpool, who gave Caoimhin Kelleher opportunities in goal during periods when Alisson Becker was unavailable.

Kelleher’s solid performances in key matches have shown the benefits of trusting young talent, and Gunter could follow a similar path in the Europa League.

For Ange Postecoglou, giving Gunter a run-out in Europe could be a smart move to maintain momentum in the squad and offer the young goalkeeper a platform to prove himself.

It’s a big step for Gunter, but if his performances in the youth teams are anything to go by, he could seize the chance to impress at a higher level.