Tottenham given Champions League boost as AC Milan's Maignan may miss 16 tie

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a Champions League boost, with AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan set to miss out on the last-16 clash.

The France international has been out with a calf injury since September but has been on the road to recovery and had hopes of making a comeback ahead of the Spurs meeting.

But Gazzetta dello Sport have reported the 27-year-old will be out until March, although he still remains in contention to feature in the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Maignan originally suffered the injury while on duty with France before picking up an additional complaint a month later that saw him ruled out of the World Cup.

Tottenham take on AC Milan on February 14 as they bid to reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in four years.

The tie between the pair will be their first meeting in 12 years after Spurs famously knocked out the Rossoneri 1-0 on aggregate in their first Champions League campaign to reach the last eight.

Italian boss Antonio Conte is expected to be back on the touchline for the first leg at the San Siro as he prepares to return to the touchline following gallbladder surgery.

Conte will be pleased to return to a Spurs camp who would have been boosted over the weekend with a superb 1-0 win over Premier League champions Manchester City.

Spurs are fighting on three fronts heading into the tie as along with a pursuit of a first Champions League title, the club are aiming to keep alive their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League while also keeping up their bid to win their first FA Cup in 32 years.

They will take on Sheffield United in the fifth round of the competition following the Blades dramatic late 3-1 win over Wrexham at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night.