Tottenham Hotspur provide update on player’s condition

Tottenham Hotspur have provided an update on Jan Vertongen’s condition following his injury on Tuesday night.

The defender was assessed by a neurologist earlier today to assess the knock to the head he suffered when collided with team-mate Toby Alderweireld in the first half of the Champions League semi final against Ajax.

He was cleared to continue after being patched up but only lasted a few seconds and had to signal to the bench that he could not continue before nearly fainting and throwing up on the side of the pitch. He was then replaced by Moussa Sissoko who helped to vastly improve Tottenham’s performance against the Dutch giants.

UEFA yesterday stood by their procedure, pointing out that the on-field treatment for Vertonghen meant the doctors had longer than three minutes to assess his condition.

Spurs have confirmed in a statement that Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion but is likely to sit out Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The statement read: “Following a thorough review over the past 48 hours by our medical staff as well as by an independent neurologist with special interest in sport-related concussion today, it has been concluded that Jan Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion during Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax.

“The Belgium defender suffered an injury to his nose due to a challenge during the game which resulted in heavy bleeding. He was deemed fit to continue playing after an on-field assessment. All Football Association concussion guidelines were followed.

“Jan was immediately withdrawn as a result of the player informing medical staff that symptoms were developing suddenly and that he no longer felt stable standing up. We have been advised that this was the result of a presyncopal episode, a near faint.

“The specialist has recommended that the player undertakes a brief period of rehabilitation before returning to training.”