Just when things were starting to look up for Tottenham’s James Maddison, misfortune struck again—and this time, it hit hard.
With the new Premier League season just around the corner, the Spurs midfielder suffered what looked to be a serious injury in a pre-season friendly, dealing a massive blow to the club and fans alike.
Maddison Collapses in Pre-Season Clash
In a friendly against Newcastle held in South Korea, Maddison had only just come onto the pitch as a late substitute.
But it wasn’t long before he went down. With no contact and no apparent trigger, he suddenly pulled up mid-run, clearly in distress.
He stumbled toward the sideline, visibly in pain, then dropped to the turf, clutching his head in despair.
The mood quickly turned somber. Medics rushed over as Maddison lay on the ground, and moments later, he was stretchered off in front of teammates who looked just as shaken.
It was a scene no one wanted to see—especially not so close to the season opener.
Frank Confirms the Worst Fears
Tottenham’s head coach Thomas Frank didn’t sugarcoat things in his post-match comments.
He called the injury “brutal” and admitted it looked “bad.”
What made it even more disheartening? It’s believed to be the same knee Maddison injured back in May—a ligament issue that sidelined him during the final stretch of last season.
Frank revealed the injury seemed to stem from a late challenge involving Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga in the 83rd minute.
There didn’t appear to be any contact, but Maddison instantly signaled to the bench, knowing something wasn’t right.
Emotional Contrast: Son’s Farewell and Maddison’s Misery
Adding to the emotional weight of the match was the bittersweet farewell for club legend Son Heung-min.
The South Korean forward received a heartfelt send-off from both sets of players, including a guard of honour that had fans tearing up.
But just as Son soaked in the applause from the bench, his attention quickly shifted to his injured teammate.
The joy of his farewell was overshadowed by concern for Maddison, whose misfortune brought an air of sadness to the occasion.
Youth Steps In as Maddison Exits
With Maddison unable to continue, 20-year-old South Korean prospect Yang Min-hyeok was brought on to finish the match.
It was a huge moment for the youngster, stepping in during a chaotic and emotional spell.
Frank summed up the whole rollercoaster afternoon with a fitting line: “Sometimes in life and football, things can be both beautiful and brutal.”
More Headaches for Spurs
Unfortunately for Spurs, this latest setback adds to a growing list of concerns.
Dejan Kulusevski is already set to miss the start of the season, and the club recently lost out on transfer target Morgan Gibbs-White, who opted to stay at Nottingham Forest instead of joining Tottenham.
For Frank and the coaching staff, Maddison’s potential absence only complicates things further as they scramble to fill creative gaps in the lineup.
