Ivan Perisic is likely to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season after suffering a Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in his right knee. The Tottenham defender has impressed when called upon from the bench this campaign but will now undergo surgery.
“We can confirm that Ivan Perisic has suffered a complex Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee,” Tottenham said in a statement on Wednesday. “The experienced Croatia international sustained the injury in non-contact training and will undergo surgery. Ivan will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.”
Perisic, who joined Spurs on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 after leaving Inter Milan, has featured six times for the Lilywhites this season, coming off the bench in all five of Tottenham’s Premier League fixtures. He recorded an assist on Saturday against Sheffield United when Richarlison headed in his corner, while he was also heavily involved in the build-up to Dejan Kulusevski’s winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Ange Postecoglou will no longer be able to turn to the Croatian, with the injury meaning another player now has the chance to impress. One player who could benefit is Ryan Sessegnon.
Signed in a £25million deal from Fulham in the summer of 2019, the 23-year-old has been hampered by a host of injury issues in his time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sessegnon has made just 56 appearances in a Tottenham shirt and the 2023/24 campaign is probably his last opportunity to show he has what it takes to succeed in north London.
Injuries have played a major part in his Spurs woes, with a hamstring issue curtailing his 2022/23 campaign and leaving him on the sidelines a lot longer than expected. Making 23 appearances in all competitions last season, Sessegnon’s last Spurs outing came off the bench for the final 11 minutes in the 1-0 home win over Man City at the beginning of February.
