Eddie Howe gives update on Adam Smith after Bournemouth defender was stretchered off with head injury against Tottenham

Eddie Howe says Bournemouth’s Adam Smith is “sitting up and okay” having been stretchered off during their clash against Tottenham on Thursday.

There was a lengthy stoppage in the second half with Cherries defender Smith sustaining a worrying looking injury.

Having gone down after taking a powerful Harry Kane free-kick to the chest, Smith found himself in the wars moments later as he clashed with Spurs defender Ben Davies.

Smith appeared to sustain a head injury in the clash with Davies

There was no malice from Davies, who didn’t get hurt

Club medics gave Smith treatment for a number of minutes before taking him off on a stretcher.

It looked nasty as the player was also given oxygen but that move appears to have been a precautionary measure.

Spurs striker Harry Kane even appeared to be sharing a joke with Smith while the latter was receiving treatment.

And while Howe admitted to not being sure about the extent of Smith’s injury, the manager is hopeful the player will be available for their clash against Leicester on Sunday.

Minutes after the final whistle, Howe said: “He’s a little shaken. He’s got a nasty knock to his cheek but he’s sitting up and he’s okay.”

Forward David Brooks came off with a calf strain. On his injury, Howe said: “I’m not sure with David. I don’t know whether it was a calf strain or cramp. He was unsure so that’s why we withdrew him.”

Smith’s injury was one of the more notable moments in an otherwise uneventful goalless draw between the two sides.

Callum Wilson thought he’d won it just in the last minute of the 90 but his overhead kick was correctly chalked off by VAR as the ball struck Josh King’s hand en route to goal.

The three points would have been a huge help for Bournemouth but the goal was correctly ruled out

Twelve minutes were added on at the end as a result of Smith’s treatment and Harry Wilson missed a glorious chance halfway through the stoppages. The substitute was put clean through on goal but Hugo Lloris was equal to his effort.

Spurs failed to register a single shot on target in the entire match but will feel they were denied a penalty inside the first five minutes.

Kane was felled in the box after being pushed in the back by King but referee Paul Tierney and VAR decided not to award a spot-kick.

Spurs didn’t do enough to win the game but could easily have got a penalty early on

The result leaves Bournemouth three points off safety while Spurs’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have almost diminished. They’re still very much in the hunt to make the Europa League spots, however.

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