Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will be out for two and a half months after tearing an ankle ligament against Aston Villa.
The injury was caused by a mistimed tackle by Villa full-back Matty Cash in the first half of Sunday’s 2-1 win. The challenge resulted in a yellow card for the Poland international.
After rising to his feet, Bentancur attempted to continue but was forced to leave the pitch a few minutes later. According to Football.london, scans have revealed ligament damage, which means the player will be out for at least two and a half months, his second layoff of the season.
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The injury occurs just as the Uruguay international is making a full recovery from an ACL rupture suffered last season. His first start since his comeback came against Villa.
Dejan Kulusevski revealed after the match that Bentancur was ‘angry’ about the challenge and believes Cash should have received more than a yellow card. Spurs fans have also expressed their displeasure on social media. Jamie O’Hara, a pundit and former Tottenham Hotspur player, has expressed his displeasure.
“2.5 month for Bentancur injury absolutely gutted he looked decent,” he wrote on X (previously Twitter). Fuming about Cash, let’s make sure the boys remember the next time we play Villa.”
He went on to say: “Think your reading this wrong not saying injure him as if I’d ever want a pro to get injured, I’m saying make sure we are at it and get one back on them ie win the game and be on them, I’d never want a fellow pro to get injured.”
The rematch between the two teams is scheduled for March, by which time Bentancur should be fully recovered if his recovery goes as planned. Villa’s next Europa Conference League match is against Leigia Warsaw on Thursday at Villa Park.
