Tottenham confirm extent of Wilson Odobert injury as crisis deepens again

Next Spurs manager will have to contend with a lengthy list of absentees

Tottenham have confirmed Wilson Odobert is set to undergo surgery on a serious knee injury that will sideline the winger for the rest of the season.

Odobert limped off and straight down the tunnel after 35 minutes having started Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle in the Premier League, replaced by Mathys Tel in what proved to be the final game of Thomas Frank’s troubled Spurs tenure .

Frank said he hoped the injury was not too serious immediately after the game, but reports in France subsequently emerged on Wednesday that the 21-year-old had damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would need an operation.

That has now been confirmed by Tottenham, who said Odobert had ruptured his ACL and will undergo surgery next week after visiting a specialist.

They did not give any sort of timeframe for the player’s absence, though it seems unlikely that he will be back before the start of next season given the usual lengthy lay-offs associated with ACL injuries.

“We can confirm that Wilson Odobert has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,” Spurs said in a statement.

“Wilson will see a specialist next week before undergoing surgery, and will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff. We're all behind you, Wilson.”