Bentancur's loss leaves Conte in a hole as he fights to plug the gap

Tottenham boss is desperately short of options after injury to crucial midfielder

- Dan Kilpatrick

RODRIGO BENTANCUR's season is over, adding injury to the insult of Saturday's shambolic 4-1 defeat by Leicester on one of the worst days of Antonio Conte's tenure.

The Uruguay midfielder is expected to be sidelined for six to seven months after suffering an ACL tear, robbing Conte of a player who transformed his side in the second half of last season and lessening the chances of a repeat this term.

Bentancur has added poise, tenacity, energy and goals to Spurs, and his ability to resist the opposition press and lead transitions is key to Conte's approach.

Spurs have already endured a brief taste of life without the 25-year-old when he was ruled out for five matches with an injury sustained at the World Cup, and it was not pretty, including defeats by Aston Villa and Arsenal.

In different circumstances, his injury would have been an opportunity for Yves Bissouma but, cruelly, the summer signing is also facing an extended spell on the sidelines following ankle surgery on Friday, leaving Conte relying on Oliver Skipp, 22, and 20-year-old Pape Matar Sarr.

The head coach's reluctance to rotate also means the young pair are coming in cold. Skipp has started just five games this season and Sarr has one Spurs start.