‘Tough’… Rodrigo Bentancur shares what he’s found difficult at Tottenham recently | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has admitted the two-week break in January made him struggle to return to form straight away.

It has been a difficult 12 months for the Uruguayan midfielder who suffered an ACL injury last year against Leicester City.

And following his return from his lengthy absence, a poor tackle from Matty Cash saw the midfielder pick up an ankle injury which set him back.

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Rodrigo Bentancur returning to form

The 26-year-old has now made 10 appearances in the Premier League this term under Ange Postecoglou, six of those coming from the starting XI.

However, with a fully fit midfield to choose from on the weekend, Bentancur was only able to feature from the bench against Wolves.

Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and James Maddison made up the starting three with Bentancur coming on for the final 19 minutes.

Speaking in the matchday programme after the game, Bentancur discussed his road to recovery and what did not help in recent weeks: “I feel really good in myself,” he said.

“For the game at Manchester United, I went into it feeling in great shape, physically. But then we had a fortnight without any game, so really from a match-fitness point of view, I found it a little bit tough to then come back.

“I do believe that I’m gradually getting back to my pre-injury form. I realise I’m still just a little bit off that right now, but I was out of action for over nine, almost 10 months, between the two injuries, and that really is a long time. I have to just be calm, keep working hard and training like l have been and then it won’t be long before I’m back at my usual level once again.”

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Postecoglou’s best midfield

Prior to the injury which set Bentancur out for months, it would be hard to imagine a Spurs midfield without the Uruguayan.

And, when he is at his best, he probably does feature in Postecoglou’s starting three in the middle.

But it is apparent he is a player still looking to find his fitness and rhythm after so long out of the game and that is something Spurs fans will need to show some patience with.

It would be difficult to say any of the midfielders showed any real sign of dominating the game on Saturday against Wolves, so perhaps a spot back in the starting XI could be grabbed ahead of the next game.

We now have a two week break from action before our game against Crystal Palace on 2 March and that will offer Bentancur further time to get himself back up to speed and potentially ear his spot back in Postecoglou’s XI.