Newcastle United’s top four rivals suffer major injury blow - their third in a week

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a third major injury blow as they try to hunt down Newcastle United in the race for a Champions League spot.

After Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Leicester City, Antonio Conte’s side are currently sat one place and two points behind the Magpies as they compete for a place among the elite of European football.

Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring at the King Power Stadium but his side were 3-1 down when he suffered an injury after a collision with Nampalys Mendy and was replaced by Pape Matar Sarr midway though the second-half.

The severity of the injury has now been confirmed and the Uruguay international is expected to be missing for the rest of the season as his side challenge for success in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

The North London club confirmed the news via their social media on Monday morning, saying: “We can confirm that Rodrigo Bentancur has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be out of action for the remainder of the campaign.

“He will undergo surgery before beginning his rehabilitation with our medical staff. We’re all behind you, Rodrigo.”

It comes as the latest blow for Conte after midfielder Yves Bissouma underwent surgery on an ankle injury and no timeframe has been set for a return to action for the former Brighton and Hove Albion star.

Spurs have already been robbed of the services of captain Hugo Lloris after he sustained a knee injury in his side’s recent home win against Manchester City. The France international keeper is expected to be out for the next six to eight weeks and is believed to be targeting a return in early April.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Fraser Forster replaced Lloris between the sticks in Saturday’s defeat at Leicester and looks set for an extended run in side over the coming weeks. That will mean the Hexham-born keeper will start in Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 away leg at AC Milan and the upcoming home double-header against London rivals West Ham United and Chelsea.