Tottenham Hotspur is facing a major setback with James Maddison’s ankle injury turning out to be worse than initially thought. The fear is that Maddison could be sidelined for a longer period, adding to the injury concerns for the team. The severity of the injury has not been officially confirmed by Tottenham or Maddison, but there are indications that it involves damage to the ankle ligaments.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou is expected to provide an update on the players’ fitness, with doubts lingering over Maddison’s availability for the upcoming match against Chelsea. The midfielder was forced off the field in the recent defeat, raising concerns about his fitness.
Tottenham confirmed Maddison’s withdrawal from the England squad due to the ankle injury, stating that he will not participate in the upcoming qualifiers and will undergo rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff.
Maddison’s injury poses a significant challenge for Postecoglou, especially with other players like Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie also dealing with injuries or suspensions.
While there is hope that van de Ven may not need surgery, initial estimates suggest that he could be out of action until January. Tottenham is yet to provide a definite timeline for his return, and the club has delayed the initial scan to assess the extent of the injury.
Following his hamstring injury in the defeat to Chelsea, van de Ven, who was signed for £43 million in the summer, had to leave the stadium on crutches. His absence will be felt, considering his impressive performances in the early part of the season.
In the short term, Eric Dier is expected to fill in for van de Ven, but Tottenham is likely to consider potential transfer targets for the upcoming window, taking into account the possibility of his return in the New Year.