Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is set to be sidelined for at least nine months after undergoing knee surgery.
The Uruguayan ruptured his ACL during his side’s 4-1 defeat by Leicester earlier this month and was ruled out until the end of the season following a scan on the issue.
He is now set to miss a significant part of next season as well following an operation earlier this week, as he is not expected to return until November at the earliest.
Bentancur appears to be trying to keep his spirits up, and has been pictured smiling with a leg brace on after having surgery.
But his lengthy lay-off is a devastating blow for Tottenham with Bentancur being one of their best players this season.
Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a serious knee injury earlier this month against Leicester
Bentancur has had surgery but will now be sidelined until at least November
The 25-year-old has played 26 games in all competitions for the club this term, chipping in with six goals and two assists.
He also played a major role in Tottenham moving past Arsenal and into fourth spot last season after he arrived from Juventus in January.
Bentancur had only recently returned from an adductor muscle injury that he picked up at the World Cup.
That issue kept him out for four consecutive league matches in December and January, but his latest setback is a far more serious injury.
His absence leaves Tottenham with three recognised central midfielders to get them through the rest of the season, with Antonio Conte able to call upon Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr.
Skipp and Sarr performed well in Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat against AC Milan last week, but will now need to step up while Bentancur is out of the team if Tottenham are to hang to a place in the top four.
Spurs currently occupy the final Champions League spot, but have just a one-point advantage over fifth-placed Newcastle and have played a game more.
Antonio Conte will now have to cope without the midfielder for the next nine months
