Bentancur undergoes knee surgery, November set as earliest return date | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has undergone successful surgery on his injured knee and is set to be sidelined for at least nine months.

According to Football Daily, November has been set as the earliest date for Bentancur’s return, with the midfielder set for a long rehabilitation period.

The Uruguay international sustained his season-ending injury in Spurs’ humiliating 4-1 defeat to Leicester City on February 11.

The former Juventus man scored his side’s only goal before coming off in the 65th minute after a collision with Nampalys Mendy.

Subsequent scans revealed a serious anterior cruciate ligament rupture, which ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Bentancur’s lengthy lay-off is a devastating blow for Spurs, with the Uruguayan being one of the club’s best players this season.

Bentancur has been a standout performer for Antonio Conte’s side since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January last year.

The 25-year-old has notched up six goals and two assists in 26 games across all competitions this season before his surgery, having formed an effective partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield.

He has been integral to Spurs’ top-four push, but the Lilywhites will now have to rally on without their midfield talisman.

Bentancur is one of four first-team players set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines for Conte’s side, with Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon and Yves Bissouma out for the foreseeable future.

Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr will be vying to partner Hojberg in the middle of the park, pending when the other first teamers return to the fold.

Spurs responded to two consecutive defeats with an impressive 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened West Ham United last time out.

Conte’s side will bid to build on their previous victory when they welcome local rivals Chelsea to north London on Sunday.