Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur appeared to be knocked unconscious before being stretchered off during the Premier League clash at Leicester City.
In worrying scenes at the King Power Stadium on Monday night, play was delayed for eight minutes while medical staff treated the stricken Bentancur.
The incident occurred in the 70th minute of the sides’ first match of the season when the midfielder collided with an opposition player in Leicester’s box, falling hard and face first.
Bentancur appeared to be knocked out cold, with players from both teams instantly flagging for the game to be stopped with medical staff running onto the pitch to treat the Uruguay star and give him oxygen.
Players, coaching staff and fans were visibly upset and concerned by the situation but eventually Bentancur was able to sit up right before being moved onto a stretcher.
As the 27-year-old left the pitch, he received applause from supporters with Archie Gray taking his place.
With the match still ongoing, Sky Sports reported that Bentancur was ‘up and talking’ in the dressing room and will continue to be monitored by Tottenham’s doctors.
Post-match, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed this news but was unable to offer much more of an update on his player.
‘I haven’t spoken to them [the doctors],’ the manager told Sky Sports.
‘It’s a head injury and we have to be careful. The good news is he was up and talking.’
He later added in his post-match press conference: ‘Look I don’t have a lot of information but I know he is up and he’s communicating so he’s fine from that point of view.
‘But obviously a head injury and I’ll leave it in hands of medical team now. The key thing is that he’s definitely conscious and communicating.’
The injury came when the score was 1-1 after Pedro Porro opened the scoring for Spurs in a dominant first-half, before the Foxes fought back with Jamie Vardy getting a shock equaliser after the break.
The match finished that way, with both sides spurning chances to steal all three points but this is a result that will suit Leicester far more than Tottenham.
Spurs will be in action on Saturday when they take on Everton at home.
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