Christian Eriksen injury: Relief at Tottenham after injury is found to be not as serious as feared

The playmaker can still expect to be out for around four weeks

Christian Eriksen (GETTY IMAGES)

Tottenham have received the welcome news that Christian Eriksen's ankle injury is not as bad as first feared.

Eriksen hobbled off 40 minutes into Denmark's 2-1 win over Norway following a late tackle from Vegard Forren.

Spurs feared the 21-year-old had ruptured ankle ligaments, but scans revealed he had only suffered a sprain.

Press Association Sport understands that Tottenham expect to be without the playmaker for around four weeks.

A Tottenham statement read: "Following an MRI scan on Monday it has been determined that Christian Eriksen suffered a sprain of the lateral ankle ligaments playing for Denmark against Norway on Friday.

"The scan showed no sign of ruptured ligaments which will result in a shorter period of recovery for the attacking midfielder."

Spurs are reluctant to put an official time frame on his recovery, but if all goes well with Eriksen's rehabilitation, it is understood that he could be back for the home game against Liverpool on December 15.

Spurs signed Eriksen from Ajax for £11.5million in the summer.

The creative midfielder was man of the match on his debut against Norwich and he scored in the following fixture against Tromso in the Europa League.

He then lost his place in the team to Lewis Holtby following a dip in form, but returned to the starting XI for Spurs' last game against Newcastle.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has plenty of players who can fill Eriksen's number 10 role while he is out.

Holtby, Erik Lamela, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Harry Kane can play in that position while Villas-Boas also has the option of altering his formation to allow two strikers to play up front, rather than one.

PA