James Maddison was stretchered off during a pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in South Korea on July 22, 2023. The Spurs midfielder, who entered the game as a substitute in the 75th minute, lasted only nine minutes before appearing to suffer a significant injury. Thomas Frank, the manager of Brentford, described the incident as “brutal,” highlighting the severity of Maddison’s condition.
As Maddison hobbled off the pitch, he showed visible signs of distress, with his head in his hands. This injury raises concerns as it affects the same knee that sidelined him towards the end of last season, preventing him from participating in Tottenham’s Europa League final victory.
Frank remarked on the emotional atmosphere surrounding the match, noting the contrasting experiences of Maddison’s injury and the farewell celebration for Spurs captain Heung-Min Son. The South Korean international received a guard of honour from both teams as he was substituted, marking a poignant moment ahead of his anticipated departure from the club. “I think sometimes in life and football, things can be both beautiful and brutal,” Frank stated. “That’s what we got today.”
This latest setback adds to Maddison’s injury woes, as he had only recently returned from a long-term knee problem suffered in late May. The implications of this injury could be significant for Tottenham, who are currently in search of an attacking midfielder ahead of the new season.
Analysts anticipate that if Maddison’s injury is as severe as feared, Spurs will need to expedite their recruitment efforts. According to Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz, Tottenham had previously attempted to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest by activating his £60 million release clause. However, Nottingham Forest successfully deterred the transfer by threatening legal action and persuading Gibbs-White to extend his contract with the club.
Tottenham’s attacking options are further limited as Dejan Kulusevski is expected to miss the start of the season due to knee surgery in May. The team will also need to address the attacking void left by Son’s potential departure. Pape Sarr has emerged as a temporary solution, having performed well in a more advanced role during pre-season training. Additionally, new signing Mohammed Kudus, acquired for £55 million, has the versatility to play in central positions.
As injury concerns persist, Tottenham must navigate a challenging start to the season, which continues to echo the difficulties faced in the previous campaign. New manager Thomas Frank aims to bolster the team’s competitiveness across multiple competitions, making these injury setbacks particularly concerning.
As Tottenham prepares for the upcoming season, they face not only the challenge of reconfiguring their squad but also the pressure to maintain performance levels while dealing with ongoing injury issues.
