Vertonghen plays against Ajax in protective mask just week after horror head injury in Champions League first leg

JAN VERTONGHEN played against Ajax in a protective mask after suffering a horror head injury against them a week earlier.

Tottenham's defender sickeningly clashed with fellow centre-back Toby Alderweireld in the Champions League semi-final first-leg last Tuesday and was forced off the pitch with blood covering his face.

Vertonghen, 32, tried to play on but collapsed after being given the all-clear by Spurs medics.

Tottenham came under-fire for allowing their stricken star to play on with a possible concussion but an independent neurologist has since confirmed he was not concussed.

It was recommended he take "a brief period of rehabilitation".

Spurs took no chances with Vertonghen in Amsterdam by kitting him out with a see-though, protective mask to face his old side.

He also wore the mask in training on Tuesday after being deemed fit to play in the second-leg having missed Saturday's 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.

SPURS UP AGAINST IT

Spurs began the clash one-goal down thanks to Donny van de Beek's first-leg winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And it began disastrously for Mauricio Pochettino's men at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, with Matthijs De Ligt smashing in a header just six minutes in, and Hakim Ziyech smashing in a second after 35 minutes.

Pochettino said before kick-off: "The negative result in the first leg obviously makes it more difficult, but the tie is still open.

"We know we need to win and perform to our best. It's an exciting moment for us.

"Nobody thought we would have the possibility in the last week of the season to reach the final of the Champions League.

"Now we need to enjoy this moment and believe."

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