Tottenham are gearing up for a crucial Premier League showdown this weekend, with the North London giants set to take on bitter rivals Chelsea this Sunday. Unfortunately, Antonio Conte's side have been handed a huge blow in the build-up to this fixture.
One of their most important players has just been ruled out for a whopping 8-9 months. That man is none other than Rodrigo Bentancur, the Uruguayan ace regarded by man as the club's best midfielder.
The former Juventus ace suffered a knee injury in the embarrassing 4-1 loss to Leicester in mid-February and while the player wasn't stretchered off the pitch, the seriousness of this issue was evident almost immediately due to his distraught look.
Shortly afterward, it was confirmed that the player would miss the remainder of the season, which is a huge blow to their top-four race and UEFA Champions League campaign. Fast forward to today and his potential return date has been revealed and it is just as feared.
Bentancur, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, has undergone surgery and is not expected to return until November. This means not only will he miss the remainder of this season, but the South American will also be unavailable for large portions of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
BREAKING: Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has undergone surgery on his knee and is not expected to return until November at the earliest.pic.twitter.com/jq6r8vjC59
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 23, 2023
While this news isn't a direct blow to their upcoming clash with Chelsea, the update following his surgery will definitely dampen the mood. The 25-year-old has been racking up rave reviews since joining last January and has been at the heart of many of Tottenham's memorable results over the past year.
Yves Bissouma, who joined Spurs from Brighton over the summer, is also currently sidelined but the Malian midfielder is expected to feature again this season.
Antonio Conte has been forced to deal with injuries throughout the ongoing campaign and will be handed another selection headache when Chelsea pays them a visit. The North London giants recently beat West Ham 2-0, with Son Heung-min getting on the scoresheet, thus building up some confidence following the defeats to Leicester and AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
