It has certainly been a very rough go, lately, for Tottenham Hotspur on the injury and suspension fronts. Now they have another fitness issue, involving a player who has been very injury-riddled recently in Rodrigo Bentancur. The midfielder has seen his poor luck continue as he was forced off last weekend in the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa.
The specifics of the injury are yet to be confirmed, but Transfermarkt claims Bentancur has torn ankle ligaments after being on the business end of a strong challenge from Villa’s Matty Cash.
Man City vs Tottenham FYIs
Kick: Sun Feb 5, 4:30pm, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK
Team News: Man City Tottenham
Starting XI Predictions: Man City Tottenham
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Google Result Probability: Man City 75% Draw 15% Tottenham 10%
PL Form: Man City DDWWW Tottenham LLWWW
PL Standing: Man City 2nd, 29 pts Tottenham 5th 26 pts
“Yeah, not sure,” manager Ange Postecoglou said about the status of Bentancur after the game on Sunday.
“It is his ankle I think. It wasn’t a great tackle.
“I thought he started the game so well and I think it was the reason we got a real good foothold on the game. He’s such a creative player. It’s the last thing we needed, another injury. So disappointed to lose him but we’re yet to see the extent of it.”
He joins a Spurs list of walking wounded that includes the likes of: James Maddison (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Ivan Perisic (ACL), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Manor Solomon (meniscus), Richarlison (groin), Pape Sarr (unspecified muscular injury), Ashley Phillips (ankle) and Alfie Whiteman (ankle) all missed the game due to injury while Cristian Romero and Yves Bissouma sat out due to suspension.
Of that grouping, only Sarr could be back against Manchester City on Sunday.
“We’re just checking on Pape Sarr, who has an issue coming back from the international team as well,” Postecoglu said ahead of the Villa clash. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow as he didn’t train today.”
Also, Yves Bissouma will return after finished having served his suspension, but Cristian Romero still has another game to serve on his three match suspension.
Postecoglou also said: “We’ll get Biss [Bissouma] back for next week but we might have lost Bentancur.”
Looks/sounds like Bentancur is out until February.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
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