Rodrigo Bentancur out for rest of season in major blow to Tottenham

Tottenham have been dealt another significant midfield injury blow, with Rodrigo Bentancur ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate damage. The Uruguayan is expected to need six or seven months to recover.

Bentancur was taken off during Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat by Leicester on Saturday and replaced by the inexperienced Pape Matar Sarr. Two days earlier Spurs said another midfielder, Yves Bissouma, needed surgery for a stress fracture to his left ankle. The club did not put a timeline on Bissouma’s return.

Spurs play at Milan on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and the injuries are a big setback with the transfer window shut and the club facing a battle to finish in the Premier League’s top four. An FA Cup fifth-round tie awaits at Sheffield United on 1 March.

Tottenham’s assistant manager, Cristian Stellini, said on Saturday that Sarr was an option to start at Milan. Sarr, a 20-year-old Senegal international, has not played in the Champions League and his one Premier League start was in last month’s 2-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Spurs are also without their first-choice goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, for about five to seven weeks because of a knee injury. Fraser Forster is standing in.