Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko looks set to be sidelined for about a month after suffering a groin injury against Man Utd.

The midfielder pulled up during the first half of the 1-0 defeat at Wembley on Sunday and now faces a race to recover in time for the first leg of Tottenham’s Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund on February 13.

Spurs were assessing Sissoko today but he is not expected to be available for their tricky run of five games in two weeks, starting with Sunday’s game at Fulham and including the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea, the FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace and League meetings with Watford and Newcastle United.

Sissoko has become an increasingly important figure for Tottenham this season. Having struggled initially when he joined for £30million from Newcastle in 2016, he is now one of Mauricio Pochettino’s go-to players in big matches and his absence leaves the team even weaker in midfield, where the manager’s resources are already thin.

Mousa Dembele is expected to complete a move to Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan, while Victor Wanyama is still out with a knee problem and Eric Dier has missed the last five weeks after undergoing surgery on his appendix.

Five midfielders who could replace Mousa Dembele at Spurs 6 show all Five midfielders who could replace Mousa Dembele at Spurs 1/6 With Mousa Dembele having left Tottenham, we look at the players who could replace the Belgian midfielder... AFP/Getty Images 2/6 Carlos Soler Valencia



Tottenham have scouted the Spain U21 international, and the Valencia midfielder would command a fee in the region of £30m. AFP/Getty Images/Jose Jordan 3/6 Harry Winks Tottenham



An obvious, cheap, choice for Tottenham. The boyhood fan once compared to Andres Iniesta by Pochettino is getting back to his best after injury stalled his breakthrough season. Getty Images 4/6 Tanguy Ndombele Lyon



Compared with N'Golo Kante and Michael Essien, Ndomblele, another Manchester City are keeping their eye on, has some handsome reviews. Getty Images/Alex Grimm/Bongarts 5/6 Moussa Sissoko Tottenham



Many a Tottenham fan would have scoffed at this suggestion a couple of months ago, some still might. But the French international has turned a corner in his career in north London, and has brought the fanbase on side with his performances in the absence of so many key men this season. AFP 6/6 Wilmar Barrios Boca Juniors



Perhaps more of the Victor Wanyama mould than Dembele, Barrios is better remembered for his midfield industry, and a heabutt on England's Jordan Henderson at the World Cup, than any playmaking elements. Getty Images 1/6 With Mousa Dembele having left Tottenham, we look at the players who could replace the Belgian midfielder... AFP/Getty Images 2/6 Carlos Soler Valencia



Tottenham have scouted the Spain U21 international, and the Valencia midfielder would command a fee in the region of £30m. AFP/Getty Images/Jose Jordan 3/6 Harry Winks Tottenham



An obvious, cheap, choice for Tottenham. The boyhood fan once compared to Andres Iniesta by Pochettino is getting back to his best after injury stalled his breakthrough season. Getty Images 4/6 Tanguy Ndombele Lyon



Compared with N'Golo Kante and Michael Essien, Ndomblele, another Manchester City are keeping their eye on, has some handsome reviews. Getty Images/Alex Grimm/Bongarts 5/6 Moussa Sissoko Tottenham



Many a Tottenham fan would have scoffed at this suggestion a couple of months ago, some still might. But the French international has turned a corner in his career in north London, and has brought the fanbase on side with his performances in the absence of so many key men this season. AFP 6/6 Wilmar Barrios Boca Juniors



Perhaps more of the Victor Wanyama mould than Dembele, Barrios is better remembered for his midfield industry, and a heabutt on England's Jordan Henderson at the World Cup, than any playmaking elements. Getty Images

Harry Winks is currently Spurs’ only fit senior midfielder, with 18-year-old Oliver Skipp, who has made only two starts for the club, effectively his understudy.

Sissoko, 29, had started 10 of Tottenham’s 11 most recent games and completed 90 minutes in all but one of those.

It remains to be seen whether Spurs will enter the transfer market to replace him.

They are thought to be examining possible midfield targets, although January remains a difficult time to do business and the club’s new £1billion stadium — for which they have been unable to confirm an opening date — remains a significant financial burden.