(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, CBS Sports)

Oliver Walton

Sun 3 August 2025 15:09, UK

Tottenham supporters will be worried about another serious injury concern to a key man after James Maddison was taken off on a stretcher in their pre-season friendly against Newcastle.

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The build up to Spurs‘ latest friendly was dominated by the news that Heung-min Son is set to leave the after 10 years which has seen him become a club legend for the North London outfit.

Tottenham have enjoyed a relatively successful start to life under Thomas Frank so far, with draws in friendlies against Wycombe and Luton, and wins against Reading and arch-rivals Arsenal prior to their clash against Newcastle.

Frank’s side took an early lead against the Magpies in South Korea on Sunday (3 August), with Brennan Johnson’s deflected shot finding the net in the fourth minute, but Harvey Barnes levelled just before the interval and the game eventually ended 1-1.

Spurs fans will be emotional after Son’s last game for the club before he moves on, and their woes will have been compounded by another injury scare that could now rule Maddison out for the start of the Premier League season.

Maddison had only just returned from a serious knee injury (Credit Imago)

Maddison endured an injury-hit end to the 2024/25 season, as he was sidelined for the final four games of the league campaign and was forced to watch on as Spurs ended their trophy drought in the Europa League against Man United.

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The 28-year-old made his return from that serious knee issue against Arsenal on Thursday (31 July), and started on the bench against Newcastle before replacing Archie Gray in the 75th minute.

Maddison only lasted around seven minutes on the pitch, however, as he innocuously pulled up holding his right knee and went down writhing in pain after seemingly turning sharply but making no contact with a Newcastle player.

https://x.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1951991702496985106

The Athletic’s Tottenham reporter, Jay Harris, immediately tweeted explaining how Maddison had been “stretchered off with his hands over his face” as he was duly taken off three minutes after the injury had happened, in what will be seriously worrying scenes for all connected to the club.

Spurs boss Frank admitted after the game that the injury looked “brutal,” and confirmed that it was a reoccurrence of his previous knee problem.

Football Insider verdict

Tottenham had seriously high hopes for Maddison after his £40million [BBC] move from Leicester City in 2023, and he has impressed as many expected him to when he has been fit to play over the last two years.

The England international began life at the club in brilliant form with three goals and six assists in his first 11 league outings, but an ankle injury soon ruled him out for two months, and he struggled to return to that form in the second-half of 2023/24.

He was a catalyst for Spurs’ Europa League success last term, however, with three goals and four assists in 11 games, and he also notched nine goals and seven assists in 31 league outings despite the club’s poor domestic performances under Ange Postecoglou.

AppearancesGoalsAssists751621Maddison’s Spurs career stats

Now that he could be facing more time on the sidelines after his recent knee troubles, Tottenham may need to delve into the transfer market to find a suitable replacement, with midfield additions needed regardless.

Frank already has injury concerns with both Destiny Udogie and Dominic Solanke sidelined ahead of the new campaign, but Maddison could be the biggest blow of them all if his new injury is serious.

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