Jan Vertonghen injury: Spurs’ title hopes hurt as defender ruled out for two months

Belgian suffered a knee ligament injury

Tottenham Hotspur are facing their most troubling injury absence of the season after Jan Vertonghen was ruled out for up to two months with a knee ligament problem.

Spurs have the best defence in the Premier League, conceding just 19 goals in their 23 games so far. That security has been built on the all-Belgian pairing of Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, who have started every league game together at centre-back.

That run will end next week, though, with Vertonghen on the sidelines for six weeks at the least. He damaged medial collateral ligaments in his left knee as he fell awkwardly after colliding with Connor Wickham’s elbow during Saturday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace. Wickham was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association on Monday.

Vertonghen will certainly miss Spurs’ crucial trip to Manchester City on 14 February, as well as both legs of their Europa League last-32 tie with Fiorentina.

He has targeted a return for the north London derby against Arsenal on 5 March. If Tottenham’s worst fears are confirmed, and he is out for two months, that could take him all the way up until the international break in late March.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino will need to replace Vertonghen with someone who can be just as effective, and the man in line is Kevin Wimmer, signed from Cologne for £4m in the summer. Wimmer has started five games so far this season, all in the cups, and made his Premier League debut when he came on for Vertonghen on Saturday.

Wimmer is expected to partner Alderweireld at Colchester United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday and, if he does well, should keep his place for the Premier League game at Norwich City on Tuesday. Eric Dier could be an alternative to Wimmer, having played in a three-man defence with Vertonghen and Alderweireld at Watford last month. But Pochettino might be reluctant to move his midfield linchpin back into defence for two whole months.

Andros Townsend left Tottenham last night after 16 years at the club, as Newcastle United agreed a £12m fee for the England winger. Townsend has not played for Spurs for three months, having scuffled with fitness coach Nathan Gardiner after being an unused substitute against Aston Villa on 2 November.

Pochettino said that Townsend needed “to learn about behaviour and discipline” and never picked him again. He has spent the last few weeks playing for the Under-21s.

Another player frozen out of Spurs by Pochettino, Emmanuel Adebayor, returned to the Premier League last night by signing a five-month deal with Crystal Palace.

The Togo striker was released by Tottenham in September having barely featured in the second half of last season, ending up as third-choice striker behind Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado. Adebayor last started a match just over one year ago – an FA Cup defeat to Leicester City – and was also pursued this month by Watford. Adebayor has also played for Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid.