Tottenham star ruled out for season in huge blow to Champions League bid

Tottenham Hotspur left-back Destiny Udogie will miss the rest of the Premier League season as well as Italy's Euro 2024 campaign after undergoing surgery on a muscle injury.

Having officially signed in 2022, Udogie had enjoyed a fine debut season with Spurs after joining up with the first-team last summer, completing his move to north London at the end of a one-year loan spell back at Udinese.

But his campaign has come to a premature close after going under the knife to fix an injury picked up in training this week.

Tottenham said in a statement: "We can confirm that Destiny Udogie has undergone surgery to his left quadriceps, having sustained an injury in training earlier this week.

"The defender will continue his rehabilitation with our medical staff and is expected to rejoin the squad during pre-season.

"We're all behind you, Destiny."

Taking to Instagram, Udogie said: "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. An injury brings my season to an early end. It doesn't take away from how grateful I am to every person that has supported me this year."

Udogie made 30 appearances for Tottenham across all competitions this season, contributing two goals and three assists. In part due to an excellent first half of the campaign, he is among the leading contenders for the left-back spot in the PFA Team of the Year, while at 21 he could be nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

In Udogie's place, Ange Postecoglou is likely to call upon Ben Davies at left-back, though Emerson Royal could also start there.

Tottenham are back in action next Sunday with the visit of north London rivals Arsenal. They end the season with games against Chelsea, Liverpool, Burnley, Manchester City and Sheffield United.

With the Premier League unlikely to gain a fifth Champions League spot, Spurs will have to finish in the top four to qualify for next year's competition. They currently sit three points behind fourth-place Aston Villa, though have played one match fewer than Unai Emery's side.

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