Matt Doherty's season-ending knee injury is a "massive blow" for Tottenham, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The 25-cap Republic of Ireland international was enjoying his best run in the side since signing from Wolves but is expected to miss the rest of the campaign after suffering a knee injury against Aston Villa.

What happened to Doherty against Aston Villa?

While Spurs' trip to Villa Park proved another huge result in the race for fourth, it wasn't the perfect afternoon for Antonio Conte.

The Italian watched his team, inspired by a Heung Min Son treble, claim a 4-0 win, but that all came after Doherty was forced off in the early exchanges.

Just moments after Son broke the deadlock, the wing-back was on the receiving end of a robust challenge from Villa right-back Matty Cash, who despite winning the ball, came through the Spurs defender.

Such is Doherty's determination, he tried to run it off on two separate occasions, but his luck ran out on 21 minutes when he was finally replaced by Sergio Reguilon.

There was worse news to follow less than 48 hours later, after Football.London confirmed that the 30-year-old is set to spend around three months on the sidelines after rupturing his medial collateral ligament.

What did Bridge say about Doherty?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "It's a massive blow because he's completely won fans over with his performances.

"Not just at right wing-back, but at left wing-back as well. Conte obviously picked him when there were two left wing-backs on the bench, because he'd done nothing to warrant being dropped, because he'd scored and played really well [against Newcastle]."

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Who will be Tottenham's starting full-backs against Brighton?

Conte's options at full-back appear to be diminishing with every passing week, although he at least had Sergio Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon back on the bench against Villa after the pair missed the win over Newcastle through injury.

But Doherty's injury means that Emerson Royal is now his only recognised right wing-back, which should allow him to make his third consecutive start when Brighton visit north London this weekend.

In terms of left wing-back, it'll be a toss up between Reguilon and Sessegnon, although given the fact the Spaniard was picked to replace Doherty on Saturday would suggest that he'll get the nod once again.