Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of a top four finish this season may have taken significant damage as Tottenham will be without Matt Doherty for the rest of the season.
Matt Doherty is ruled out of the season against Aston Villa. (Getty Images)
The news comes as a timely boost for Arsenal who are on dismissal form following their successive defeat against Crystal Palace and Brighton, and are desperately hoping to catch Antonio Conte’s men and their ambitions of Champions League football next term.
The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international has gone from struggling for form to one of Spurs’ most important players in recent weeks and has managed to register two goals and two assists as his side hit form at just the right.
Unfortunately, Tottenham lost Matt Doherty to knee injury in their rampant victory over the Villans on Sunday after an hefty contest with Matt Cash, where he ruptured his medial collateral ligament in his knee – leaving him sidelined for at least 12 weeks.
“I hope nothing serious, I hope… I hope so because Matthew is an important player for us and I hope this injury is not serious.” Conte said on Saturday.
His absence will be a blow to Conte who had been full of praise for Doherty for his performances in recent weeks and hoped on Saturday that the injury would not be a bad one.
In Doherty’s absence, Spurs will now have to rely on Brazilian international Emerson Royal who has endured a mixed start to life in North London having joined the club in the summer from FC Barcelona.
With seven matches left to play, Spurs are firmly in the driving seat when it comes to securing the much-coveted fourth spot. But Arsenal do have one game in hand over Spurs and with the ‘postponed’ north London derby yet to be played.