Toby Alderweireld Suffers Apparent Injury vs. Stoke, Replaced by Kevin Wimmer

Tottenham Hotspur’s star centre-back Toby Alderweireld hobbled out of the team’s clash with Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday. 

As the club’s official Twitter feed noted, the Belgium international was replaced by Kevin Wimmer in the second half of their clash against the Potters at White Hart Lane:

ESPN FC’s Ben Pearce provided details of the problem the defender picked up and an exchange with manager Mauricio Pochettino:

Spurs also withdrew Alderweireld’s defensive partner Jan Vertonghen during the match, triggering some more concerns given he’s only recently returned to fitness. However, according to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, the substitution was precautionary:

The knock to Alderweireld will be a concern to Tottenham supporters, as he’s become a defensive linchpin for the team since arriving at the club in the summer of 2015.

The former Atletico Madrid man is an expert reader of the game and a defender who relishes the physical battles in the Premier League. Additionally, he’s a quality distributor, helping Spurs get attacks moving with his composure and exceptional passing range.

Alderweireld has only recently returned from an injury layoff; as noted by Transfermarkt, a knee problem saw the defender sidelined for 11 games earlier in the campaign.

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Spurs do have options to call upon at centre-back. Wimmer has proved himself as a decent deputy, while Eric Dier has also shown he can slot into the role; provided Vertonghen is fit and partnering one of the two men aforementioned, Tottenham can be cohesive without Alderweireld.

However, the 27-year-old is arguably the finest operator in his position in the Premier League and should he sit out any upcoming matches, Spurs will be worse off.