CONOR GALLAGHER is struggling to be fit for Atletico Madrid due to a virus causing issues with his asthma.
The Tottenham star, 26, suffers from
Conor Gallagher revealed at Euro 2024 that he has asthmaCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
He missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool after having a fever last week and now will be a substitute, at best, for Wednesday’s miracle mission against Atletico Madrid.
Interim boss Igor Tudor said: “We see today what we can do because he has, as you know, probably asthma problems.
“He has some virus to make some not nice things so we are going to see tomorrow if he is able to go on the bench.”
, who was signed from for £35million in January, did not train on Tuesday.
He is a major doubt to be fit to play his old team on Wednesday, where Spurs will attempt to turn around a 5-2 deficit from the Champions League last-16 first leg.
Asked if the England midfielder is struggling to breathe, Tudor replied: “Nothing like a danger but still he is not able to play.”
Gallagher has a reputation for having an impressive stamina in midfield and himself believes his “work-rate” is his greatest attribute.
It makes it all the more surprising that he manages to have such a strong engine given his respiratory issue, which Paul Scholes famously suffered from in his playing days.
Speaking during Euro 2024, Gallagher revealed: “I think I was born with it (his engine), but funnily enough I’ve got asthma as well. It always shocks everyone, to be fair.”
Tudor has been boosted by the return of Cristian Romero, after the skipper completed his concussion protocols.
It followed the sickening clash of heads at the of last week’s loss to Atletico in Madrid between himself and team-mate Joao Palhinha, who still is not ready to return.
Portuguese star Palhinha, 30, was training on his own on Tuesday and it is hoped he will be back for Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone says he is a "big fan" of Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero.
Simeone tried and failed to sign fellow Argentine Romero last summer from Spurs, whom his Atletico face on Wednesday in their Champions League last-16 second leg.
Atletico are keen to make another attempt to lure World Cup winner Romero at the end of this season.
Simeone, whose side hold a 5-2 lead from last week’s first leg, said: “I speak from a point of view as an Argentina fan. I admire his personality, his character, his defensive work and his football ability on the ball.
“As a fan of Argentina, I have seen him play more games for the national team than I have for Spurs, but I’m a big fan of him, for sure.”
It would take a monumental collapse from Simeone’s side not to secure a quarter-final clash with either Barcelona or Newcastle.
Simeone added: “We want to take the game in the direction we want to tomorrow. We will have our usual intensity that we had at home, we want to start on the front foot but Tottenham will want to start on the front foot and put on a show for their fans as well.”
Spurs were boosted by the return to training of Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall following their respective hamstring and ankle injuries.
Tudor added: “Destiny and Lucas will be on the bench tomorrow. One part of the game, not too much because they just started to train with us but it is good to see them.”
Speaking about his side’s mountain to climb against Atletico, the Croat added: “Difficult but not impossible.
“We need to stay in the game as much as possible and the game can be long so focus on our strengths, our things we can have tomorrow and everything still to play.
“So, believe we can do it. That’s the most important thing from the start.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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