Rodrigo Bentancur can make Tottenham return next week despite seven-game ban

Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur , yet he'll be back in action for Spurs as soon as next week. The Uruguayan midfielder found himself in hot water after making controversial remarks on TV back home.

During the interview, when asked about getting Son Heung-min's shirt, Bentancur quipped: "Sonny's? It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."

Despite denying the charge and issuing an apology to his teammate, the FA imposed a serious sanction, citing an 'aggravated breach' of their rules, which was supported by an independent regulatory commission panel.

While Bentancur is set to miss a string of domestic fixtures, including Premier League and Carabao Cup matches until Boxing Day, the ban doesn't extend to European competitions. This means he is clear to play in Tottenham's Europa League match against AS Roma next Thursday and the following game at Rangers on December 12.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou will surely welcome this news, given the injury woes plaguing the team, with Wilson Odobert and Richarlison out for the long haul, Micky van de Ven nursing a thigh issue, and both Timo Werner and Mikey Moore having missed games prior to the international break.

Bentancur has been a key figure in Tottenham's Premier League campaign this season, featuring in all but one of their 11 matches, starting seven and finding the back of the net once. The 27-year-old midfielder, who joined Spurs from Juventus in 2022, is a crucial cog in Postecoglou's machine.

However, the north London side suffered two consecutive defeats before the international break - an away loss to Galatasaray and a home defeat to newly-promoted Ipswich Town. Their schedule doesn't get any easier, with a challenging trip to Manchester City lined up for this Saturday evening.

Despite currently sitting 10th in the table with as many losses as victories, Postecoglou can take heart from his team's attacking prowess. With a total of 23 goals, no other Premier League team has outscored them, and six different players have scored more than once.