Tottenham Hotspur now face being without Rodrigo Bentancur until October or November after he required surgery. The midfielder suffered an injury in their defeat at Leicester City.
That is according to Sky Sports News (14/02, 11:36), which notes the extent of Bentancur’s injury may be worse than first feared. Tottenham have announced that the midfielder will miss the rest of the term. But he could even face an absence hitting seven to eight months.
Bentancur ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Spurs’ 4-1 loss at the King Power Stadium. Saturday’s fixture marked the 25-year-old’s 18th Premier League appearance this season. He has played 26 games across all competitions and started in 24.
The 54-cap Uruguay international holds an integral role in Antonio Conte’s Spurs midfield. As well as playing 26 times so far this term, Bentancur has scored six goals and laid on two assists. He bagged his latest effort to break the deadlock at Leicester after just 14 minutes.
Conte would later have to replace Bentancur in the 65th minute following a collision with Nampalys Mendy. Referee Michael Salisbury also ushered for the stretcher yet the Nueva Helvecia native managed to walk off. But Bentancur joined Tottenham’s growing injury list.
Bentancur’s injury is the worst of Tottenham’s string of recent blows for Conte
Bentancur’s injury saw the midfielder join Hugo Lloris and Yves Bissouma in the treatment room at Tottenham. Conte is facing up to eight weeks without Lloris after the goalkeeper’s knee injury. While Bissouma is also out for the foreseeable after surgery on an ankle injury.
Conte will rue Bentancur’s blow the most of all, though, having played a leading role in the north Londoners’ campaign. While Bissouma’s absence leaves Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr as Conte’s only obvious alternatives with centre-back Eric Dier.
Dier could move out of the Tottenham defence to help Conte cope with Bentancur’s injury. But the England international will not give anywhere near the same impact as the Uruguay star, whom Gus Poyet has called ‘outstanding’ on the ball and strong in his defensive roles.
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