Tottenham confirm Jan Vertonghen did NOT suffer a concussion during Champions League defeat by Ajax with defender now expected to be fit for semi-final second-leg next week
- Jan Vertonghen clashed heads with team-mate Toby Alderweireld on Tuesday
- Clash occurred as Spurs lost 1-0 to Ajax in Champions League semi-final first leg
- Vertonghen initially returned to the field before being taken off looking groggy
- It was thought he had suffered a concussion but test have concluded otherwise
Tottenham’s medical team have declared that defender Jan Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion during Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat by Ajax.
Vertonghen was left bloodied and shaken after clashing heads with team-mate Toby Alderweireld during the first half of the Champions League semi-final first leg.
He initially returned to the field, but was later subbed off on 39 minutes and was seen retching as he was helped away from the action.
Jan Vertonghen received extensive medical treatment after a nasty clash against Ajax
It was though that he had likely suffered a concussion but Spurs published a statement on Thursday suggesting that was not the case.
It read: ‘Following a thorough review over the past 48 hours by our medical staff as well as by an independent neurologist with special interest in sport-related concussion today, it has been concluded that Jan Vertonghen did not suffer a concussion during Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax.
‘The Belgium defender suffered an injury to his nose due to a challenge during the game which resulted in heavy bleeding. He was deemed fit to continue playing after an on-field assessment. All Football Association concussion guidelines were followed.
‘Jan was immediately withdrawn as a result of the player informing medical staff that symptoms were developing suddenly and that he no longer felt stable standing up. We have been advised that this was the result of a presyncopal episode, a near faint.
‘The specialist has recommended that the player undertakes a brief period of rehabilitation before returning to training.’
Vertonghen is expected to be fit in time to feature in next Wednesday’s second leg against Ajax in Amsterdam, although he will likely not feature in the Premier League game at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Spurs defender was held up by manager Mauricio Pochettino as he retched on the touchline