VERTONGHEN: I’VE HAD BAD HEADACHES FOR MONTHS AFTER THIS

JAN VERTONGHEN has admitted he struggled for nine months to get over a head injury.

The former Spurs defender’s confession will heighten demands for football to bring in concussion substitutes and impose stronger protocols.

He told how problems started after a clash of heads with teammate Toby Alderweireld during a Champions League semi-final against Ajax last year (above).

“This is the first time I’ve spoken about it,” said Vertonghen, who was sick on the pitch after

trying to play on (above). “I shouldn’t have continued playing, it affected me in total for nine months. That’s why I couldn’t bring on the field what I wanted to.”

Tottenham insisted they followed the rules and that medical reports showed he did not suffer concussion.

The 33-year-old, now at Benfica, added: “I just didn’t know what to do. It was game after game and training after training, every time there was a new impact. Then lockdown came and I was able to rest for two months, after that it was a lot better.”

Vertonghen revealed in a podcast he chose not to tell anyone and does not blame Spurs or Jose Mourinho, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino the following season and did not play him because he was struggling for form.

“I suffered a lot from that hit, dizziness and headaches,” he said. “Not a lot of people knew. It was my personal choice. That’s not a reproach to anybody.”

He accepted he might have kept quiet over fears of not being picked.

Premier League clubs could vote tomorrow on allowing temporary subs while injuries are assessed.