James Maddison was stretchered off for Tottenham of their pre-season pleasant draw with Newcastle in South Korea – in what Thomas Frank described as a “brutal” harm.
Maddison was later pictured leaving the stadium on crutches.
The Spurs midfielder got here on as a Seventy fifth-minute substitute and was solely on the pitch for 9 minutes earlier than he began hobbling intensely and showing in actual discomfort.
Maddison appeared distraught – together with his head in his fingers – as he was stretchered off the pitch. It’s the identical knee that noticed the England worldwide miss the tip of final season, together with Spurs’ Europa League last triumph.
After the sport, Frank described Maddison’s newest harm as a “brutal” – because it marred an emotional afternoon with departing Spurs captain Heung-Min Son given a guard of honour by each units of gamers as he was substituted off in his dwelling nation earlier than his anticipated Spurs departure.
“I think sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal,” mentioned the Spurs boss. “That is what we bought immediately.
“It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players.”
That is one other harm setback for the midfielder – who had solely simply returned from a long-term knee drawback sustained on the finish of Could.
What does Maddison blow imply for Spurs’ summer time plans?
Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz:
Tottenham have been already on the lookout for a brand new attacking midfielder on this switch window – this Maddison blow, if as dangerous as feared, means they want one much more now.
Spurs tried to herald Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest by activating his £60m launch clause. However Evangelos Marinakis’ aspect managed to stop the deal from taking place by first threatening authorized motion towards Tottenham and the participant’s agent – earlier than then convincing the England worldwide to signal a brand new contract.
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Watch Morgan Gibbs-White decide to a brand new contract at Nottingham Forest after being pursued by Spurs
Attacking midfield can be an space the place Spurs are brief. Dejan Kulusevski is ready to overlook the beginning of the season as he recovers from the knee surgical procedure he had in Could. Departing captain Son’s attacking spot may should be changed.
Spurs do have a short lived attacking midfield answer in Pape Sarr, who has been scoring from a extra superior place throughout pre-season, whereas new £55m signing Mohammed Kudus can play in central areas.
However with Future Udogie and Dominic Solanke additionally out injured in the mean time, Spurs’ harm issues that plagued their marketing campaign final time period have carried over into the present marketing campaign.
With new boss Frank seeking to enhance Spurs’ potential to compete on a number of fronts, this isn’t the very best begin to life in north London.
Sky Sports activities to indicate 215 dwell Premier League video games from subsequent season
From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will enhance from 128 matches to at the least 215 video games solely dwell.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.
