Tottenham Hotspur’s mood after a crucial 2-1 victory at Villa Park on Sunday evening was tempered by the sight of Richarlison limping out of the action, handing Roberto De Zerbi yet another potential fitness headache in what has already been a deeply troubled season for the north Londoners.
The Brazilian forward had been one of Spurs’ more effective players in the first half, troubling a sluggish Aston Villa defence and combining well with Randal Kolo Muani in the attacking third.
He had also scored what proved to be a decisive goal earlier in the half — a poacher’s finish that gave Spurs a two-goal cushion and silenced the home crowd — before being replaced by Pape Matar Sarr in the second half, visibly uncomfortable as he made his way from the pitch.
The concern will not be lost on De Zerbi, who already faces a formidable injury list heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
Xavi Simons has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained at Wolves the previous weekend, while Dominic Solanke is also understood to be facing a race against time to feature again this season after sustaining a grade-two hamstring injury at the same fixture.
Richarlison had stepped directly into the breach left by those absences, starting and scoring at Villa Park — making his own fitness all the more critical.
With Spurs now sitting 17th on 37 points — a point clear of West Ham United, who drop into the relegation zone — three matches remain to secure survival.
Their upcoming opponents are Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton. Should Richarlison’s withdrawal prove to be injury-related, the implications for that run-in could be significant, particularly given how little attacking depth De Zerbi has available at present.