Matt Doherty will miss the rest of Tottenham’s season after suffering a knee injury against Aston Villa on Saturday. football.london understands.
The 30-year-old Irishman has become a key player for Antonio Conte in recent weeks, with two goals and two assists in five games as Spurs battle for fourth place in the Premier League.
However, he suffered a knee injury after a challenge with Matty Cash in Saturday’s win at Villa Park. Doherty attempted to continue playing after treatment but was eventually forced to break away and was seen exiting the stadium wearing a knee brace.
CONTINUE READING:Antonio Conte’s great Spurs satisfaction and Steven Gerrard’s Dejan Kulusevski claim
football.london believes scans of the injury have now revealed the Republic of Ireland international has torn his medial collateral ligament in his knee and will be out for up to 12 weeks.
Not only does that rule him out for the remainder of the season, but it also means his chances of playing in his country’s Nations League games in June are all but over.
It has not yet been decided whether the full-back will undergo surgery. His absence will be a blow to Conte, who had been full of praise for Doherty’s performances over the past few weeks and hoped on Saturday the injury wouldn’t be serious.
“I hope nothing serious, I hope,” said the Spurs boss on Saturday. “The doctors will examine him tomorrow. I hope nothing serious because he wanted to try to continue playing but in the end he preferred to come out. I hope so because Matthew is an important player for us and I hope so .” Injury is not serious.”
However, it turned out to be a season-ending injury and Conte will now have to rely on 24-year-old Brazilian Emerson Royal as his only fit right-back for the final seven games of the season.
Read more related articles Read more related articles