Jan Vertonghen faces up to eight weeks out of action after scans revealed that he suffered medial knee-ligament damage during Saturday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

The centre-half has been in fine form this season, having formed a reliable partnership with his Belgium international team-mate, Toby Alderweireld, and his absence is a serious blow to Tottenham’s push for a Champions League finish or, even, the Premier League title.

Vertonghen underwent the scan at the Clinica Quiron hospital in Barcelona and he is hopeful that he could return in around five or six weeks’ time – specifically for the north London derby at home to Arsenal on 5 March. He will definitely miss the visit to Manchester City on 14 February.

Verthongen had been substituted in the 75th minute following a collision with Connor Wickham, who appeared to elbow the Belgian in the face. The Palace striker faces a three-match ban after being charged by the FA with violent conduct following a review by its video panel.

Mauricio Pochettino, the manager, replaced Vertonghen at Palace with Kevin Wimmer, the 23-year-old Austrian, who joined last summer from Cologne, while his other option in the position would be Eric Dier, although he has impressed and settled into a defensive midfield role.

Wimmer’s cameo against Palace as a 75th-minute substitute represented his league debut for the club, with his other five appearances having come in the Europa League and the domestic cups.

Pochettino remains open to offers before next Monday’s transfer deadline for Federico Fazio, who has fallen completely from favour, with his one appearance this season having come in the Capital One Cup defeat at home to Arsenal on 23 September.

Newcastle set to sign Tottenham’s Andros Townsend after manager steps in Read more

The writing has been on the wall for Fazio since 26 November, when Pochettino took a 21-man squad to Azerbaijan for the Europa League tie against Qarabag but left the Argentinian back in London. Cameron Carter-Vickers, the 18-year-old centre-half, is also now ahead of him in the pecking order. Sevilla are interested in taking Fazio.

Regarding Vertonghen, The club said in a statement: “Further assessment and scans have confirmed that Jan Vertonghen sustained damage to his medial collateral ligament in his knee during our win against Crystal Palace. Our medical staff will continue to monitor his progress during his rehabilitation to determine when he will be ready to return to training.”

Tottenham travel to Colchester in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday before league games against Norwich, Watford and Manchester City.