Vertonghen did NOT have concussion

JAN VERTONGHEN was not concussed following his blow to the head in Tottenham’s Champions League loss by Ajax on Tuesday.

Vertonghen appeared extremely dizzy in the moments after a threeway collision with team-mate Toby Alderweireld and Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana but, after Vertonghen saw a neurologist yesterday, Spurs confirmed his wooziness was because he nearly fainted.

He looks certain to miss tomorrow’s trip to Bournemouth but, provided he feels no further ill effects, Vertonghen hopes to be available for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg in Amsterdam, where Spurs will try to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Tottenham medics are cautious about the possibility of Vertonghen featuring against Ajax next week but there is growing optimism that he will be fit to face his former club.

The final decision lies with medical staff and manager Mauricio Pochettino, and Vertonghen will not pressure staff to give him the green light to play in Holland.

The defender’s injury has thrust the dangers of concussion back into the spotlight, and Premier League and Championship clubs can now call on the images used for goal-line technology to analyse clashes in the penalty box.

The doctor in the tunnel would be able to inform the club medic by radio if a player was unconscious at any point between the injury being suffered and the time it took for the club doctor to reach the victim on the pitch.

The Premier League introduced tunnel doctors in 2014 in a move designed to protect players from head injuries.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson supports the introduction of rolling substitutes to allow medical staff to make proper assessments of injured players.

Hodgson said: ‘I wouldn’t see anything wrong with that. The game is becoming much more than an 11-man game for 90 minutes and you have got a sub up your sleeve in case someone gets injured.’

fulham defender Denis Odoi, meanwhile, will sit out tomorrow’s Premier League match against Wolves after suffering a head injury in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Cardiff.