Tottenham forward Richarlison has confirmed he is set for surgery on his pelvis in another blow to the club and head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs are already without forwards Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon due to long-term injuries, while centre-half Micky van de Ven suffered a potentially serious hamstring injury in Monday night's defeat to Chelsea.
Speaking to ESPN Brasil after the game, Richarlison, who was an unused substitute, said he had been struggling for fitness and would soon go under the knife.
“The last few months haven’t been easy for me,” Richarlison added, with tears in his eyes. “I’ve had health problems. I’ve already spoken to the doctors and soon I would do surgery on my pubis.
“I’ve been suffering, fighting for my national team and my club for eight months and haven’t been taking care of myself.
“I think it’s time to rest, to stop for a second. I’ll think about it in the next few days and soon I will do what is best for me.”
The Chelsea game came a few hours after Brazil coach Brazil coach Fernando Deniz left the 25-year-old out of squad for the internationals, and Richarlison said he understood the decision.
“I was sad when I was not called up but I understand Deniz,” he said. “In his place, I wouldn’t call me up either — I haven’t been playing good football, I’ve been below my best.
“I’ve improved in the last few games. But I need to improve a lot to wear the national team shirt.
“I have to be playing. I have to be feeling well, I have to be 100 per cent and I haven’t been, I think the manager made the right choice.
“The guys are flying. So it’s up to me to keep working. I’ll definitely be back. I didn’t get here by chance. It’s up to me to work hard every day and get into a rhythm here at Tottenham.
“I was hoping to play here (vs Chelsea) in an important game, a derby. Yesterday, I was told that I wouldn’t be playing, but that’s part of football.
“Every player wants to be called up for the national team. Of course, I was hoping for it but already felt that it was time for a rest.”
Spurs will also be without Cristian Romero for likely the next three matches after he was sent off against Chelsea, while Destiny Udogie will serve a one-match ban at Wolves next Saturday.
James Maddison was also substituted against the Blues with an ankle injury, although Postecoglou played down the severity of the situation afterwards.
The loss of Richarlison would leave Spurs with four senior forwards in Heung-min Son, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Bryan Gil, although Maddison or Giovani Lo Celso could play higher up if needed.
