James Maddison Injury Update: Tottenham's Early Setback
Roberto De Zerbi has suffered an early-season setback with confirmation that James Maddison has picked up a fresh injury just as he returned to competitive action for Tottenham.
The midfielder, who spent most of last season sidelined after surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, was handled cautiously through pre-season, with De Zerbi refusing to rush him back. His minutes were carefully managed, his workload controlled. Tottenham wanted their playmaker fit for the long haul, not just the opening weeks.
He finally made it back onto the pitch on the Premier League’s opening weekend, coming off the bench for the final 22 minutes of a bruising 3-0 defeat at Brentford, replacing Mikey Moore. It was supposed to be a gentle reintroduction. Instead, it brought another scare.
Maddison landed awkwardly on his shoulder during that late cameo and required assessment from the medical team. Speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup second-round tie against Charlton in north London, De Zerbi revealed the diagnosis, playing down the severity.
“Maddison suffered a small injury in his shoulder,” the Spurs head coach said, describing the issue as minor.
The news arrives as Tottenham juggle several key fitness stories at once.
- Mohammed Kudus, signed to add punch and unpredictability to the attack, remains unavailable. The Ghanaian forward is “not yet ready” to feature as he continues his recovery from a long-term quad injury that has kept him out since early January. Spurs will have to wait a little longer to see him in competitive action.
- There is better news in defence. New club captain Micky van de Ven is set to return to the matchday squad and will be on the bench against Charlton. The Dutch centre-back did not play a single minute in pre-season after his World Cup campaign with the Netherlands and then missed the Brentford defeat with a minor, unspecified problem. His presence, even among the substitutes, is a significant boost for De Zerbi as he looks to steady the side after a dismal opening result.
- Vice-captain Pedro Porro is on a similar path. The right-back will also be among the substitutes on Wednesday, having sat out pre-season and the Brentford game while he completed his recovery following Spain’s World Cup triumph in North America earlier in the summer.
- There will be fresh faces on show. Savio is in line to make his Tottenham debut after completing an £85million move from Manchester City on Tuesday, a marquee arrival expected to inject pace and directness into De Zerbi’s attack.
- Up front, Dominic Solanke has been earmarked to start, giving him an early chance to stake his claim as the focal point of the Spurs frontline. On the bench, highly rated teenager Luca Williams-Barnett is set to be involved, another glimpse of the club’s next generation on a night that could say plenty about the depth and direction of De Zerbi’s new-look Tottenham.
