Spurs defender Vertonghen out for lengthy spell

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has sustained knee ligament damage and will be out of action for a lengthy spell, the club said on Tuesday.

The Belgian, an ever-present for Mauricio Pochettino’s side this season, picked up the injury when he fell awkwardly in his side’s comeback victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Vertonghen left Selhurst Park on crutches and, after undergoing a scan, has now been ruled out for the foreseeable future.

“Further assessment & scans have confirmed that Jan Vertonghen sustained damage to his medial collateral ligament in his knee at Palace,” Tottenham tweeted.

“Our medical staff will continue to monitor his progress during his rehabilitation to determine when he will be ready to return to training.”