Guglielmo Vicario has had surgery to repair an ankle fracture that he sustained during Tottenham’s 4-0 Premier League win at Manchester City on Saturday. The news has rocked the club so soon after such a morale-boosting result and it will deprive them of one of their key players and leaders at a busy time of the season.

Spurs have not put a timeframe on the goalkeeper’s absence but he stands to be a long-term casualty. The manager, Ange Postecoglou, will most likely turn to the 36-year-old backup Fraser Forster, who has started three times so far this season – once in the Carabao Cup, twice in the Europa League.

Spurs face Roma in the European competition on Thursday night before embarking on a run of nine games in December, including the Carabao Cup quarter-final at home against Manchester United.

Vicario was hurt in a collision with the City winger Savinho just before half-time, only to play on and complete the 90 minutes of surely the most eye-catching victory of Postecoglou’s tenure. Vicario was seen limping as he went through the post-match mixed zone – the area where journalists wait to talk to the players – and scans revealed the damage.

Vicario wrote on Instagram: “I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team. Unfortunately there was no way around this one. I needed surgery.

“I’m disappointed I won’t be able to help the team for a while. A massive thank you to the doctors and the staff. The operation went well, and from tomorrow I’ll be working hard to come back stronger, fitter, and ready to give my all for you again. Thank you to the Spurs fans for all the love. See you soon on the pitch.”

Spurs said in a statement: “We can confirm that Guglielmo Vicario has today undergone surgery for a fracture of his right ankle. He will be assessed by our medical staff to determine when he can return to training.”

Vicario played a key role against City, making saves to deny Erling Haaland. Postecoglou was without his first-choice centre-halves Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven at the Etihad Stadium, with the latter not expected back from a hamstring problem until mid-December. Romero’s injury is not as serious.

Also injured are the forwards Richarlison and Wilson Odobert, while the attacking midfielder Mikey Moore is recovering from a virus. The midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has served one game of a seven-match ban for making a racial slur against his teammate Son Heung-min.