Tottenham Hotspur star Pape Matar Sarr comments on Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma’s injuries

Pape Matar Sarr has benefited from Tottenham Hotspur midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma’s recent injuries.

The Uruguay international is out until November with a serious knee injury. The former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, meanwhile, underwent ankle surgery earlier this month.

Oliver Skipp and Sarr have seen added playing time as a result. They started in our 1-0 loss against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 clash and did pretty well, to be honest.

All seven of the Senegal international’s senior appearances for the Lilywhites have come in 2023. He would fancy himself to play against Sheffield United in the FA Cup fifth round on 1 March.

Sarr doing well for Spurs

The 20-year-old acknowledges that Bentancur and Bissouma’s injuries have harmed the team, but he also recognises that this has handed him a golden opportunity to prove himself to manager Antonio Conte and stand-in boss Cristian Stellini.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former FC Metz midfielder said:

“Honestly, it has been hard for the team. Yes, it has given me an opportunity, we need [Bentancur] and Bissouma so we have had to experiment.

“They are experienced, golden players and we need them for the help of the team, the coach and the club. We are without those who are injured but I’m sure they will come back quickly and stronger.”

Sarr coming through the youth ranks and making an impression in the first team is something we would have envisaged when we agreed to pay 14.6 million Pounds in transfer fees for him.

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That isn’t a small sum to pay for a teenager. Clearly, we had big expectations then and we should have similar expectations right now.

Sarr has all the tools to be a very good central midfielder. He now has the chance to showcase that and make himself one of our first-team midfielders for the next season.