Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur to miss the game against Everton
The 2024/25 Premier League campaign haven’t begun in a pretty fashion for Tottenham Hotspur. A point away at newly promoted Leicester City isn’t bad, but considering how Ange Postecoglou’s side dominated for the majority parts of the game and created so many chances, it was more of a case of two points dropped rather than one earned.
Besides dropping points in the first game of the new season, Tottenham were dealt a big blow when Rodrigo Bentancur clashed heads with Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu from a corner kick and fell flat on the ground in the 78th minute, causing extreme panic and worry for everyone around the incident and all viewers.
The central midfielder lay flat on the ground when the physios and doctors rushed. He needed over five minutes of treatment before being carried off with 12 minutes left. Rodrigo Bentancur gained consciousness and received oxygen treatment before being stretchered off.
After the game, head coach Ange Postecoglou offered a positive health update on Bentancur. Given the severity of the head injury and Spurs using a concussion substitute against the Foxes on Monday, it was inevitable that he would miss the next Premier League game.
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Daniel Fernandez, Bentancur’s physical trainer, has confirmed that the player will not play for Spurs against Everton on Saturday.
“Due to Premier League protocol, Rodrigo will not be able to play in the next match,” Daniel Fernandez said on Radio Sport 890 (h/t ESPN)
“The fall worried me because such spontaneous blows to the head in that type of play are dangerous, but luckily nothing serious happened. He is now stable, he is fine. He was rehabilitated in the locker room, and they are going to do a preventive MRI to see how he is. At least he is back to normal now.
“Obviously he will have to be careful this week because these blows sometimes have consequences after 24 or 48 hours. Luckily it was a blow to the side of his face, he is a little swollen and we hope he recovers.”
Premier League officials have introduced the concussion protocol to reduce the risk of brain damage and other problems concerning a concussion after a head injury. Also, the new rules for making unlimited substitutions for concussion-related injuries, known as “concussion substitution”, is a noble way to help managers in the Premier League tackle such unprecedented incidents on the field.
The good news for everyone associated with Tottenham and beyond is that Bentancur responding well after a clash of heads, as per his personal trainer. The Uruguayan certainly has had a fair share of injury issues lately and this is just the latest thing to keep him away from Big Ange’s starting XI, although we wish him very well to recover fully and hit the ground sooner rather than later.
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Bentancur’s absence due to concussion protocol should open the door for either Lucas Bergvall or Archie Gray to start against Everton. Yves Bissouma was suspended by the club after the laughing gas incident and whether he will be available for selection on Saturday remains to be seen.
