An altercation with Crystal Palace’s Connor Wickham has left Tottenham Hotspur facing an anxious wait for an injury update on Jan Vertonghen.
The pair were involved in a scuffle during Saturday’s Premier League bout at Selhurst Park—a match which Spurs ultimately won 3-1 after Vertonghen’s early goal was cancelled out by goals from Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Nacer Chadli.
The Belgian defender was felled during the match, seemingly after being struck by the elbow of Palace frontman Wickham, a seemingly innocuous flashpoint which risks leaving Spurs’ title hopes in tatters.
According to The Sun, Spurs are concerned that Vertonghen has suffered medial ligament damage which, according to the tabloid, risks ruling him out of the coming months of the campaign.
The report notes that Tottenham are set to receive scan results of the Belgian’s knee today, with a slight grade one sprain carrying an absence of up to three to six weeks, but a more serious grade two or three problem could leave the international defender facing double that amount of time on the sidelines.
The news comes as a major blow both to Spurs’ hopes of challenging for the title—they are only five points off leaders Leicester City after 23 matches—and their aspirations for a top-four finish, with Vertonghen—alongside compatriot Toby Alderweireld and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris—the bedrock upon which the Lilywhites’ magnificent campaign has been built.
28-year-old Vertonghen has started every one of Tottenham’s league games so far this season, but in his absence, Spurs may have to turn to Kevin Wimmer or Federico Fazio to deputise in defence.
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