James Maddison has suffered another setback after scans confirmed that the Tottenham midfielder has a minor shoulder fracture, ruling him out of the upcoming matches against Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United.
Maddison had only recently returned to action after spending almost the entirety of last season sidelined with a serious ACL injury. He missed pre-season but was included on the bench for Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Brentford.
The 29-year-old came on in the second half of Spurs’ 3-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium and showed some promising signs during his brief appearance. However, he landed awkwardly on his shoulder during the game, creating fresh concerns over his fitness.
Initial reports suggested the injury could potentially keep him out for the Newcastle game, but further examinations have provided a clearer picture. According to reporting from David Ornstein, scans showed a slight fracture with minor damage, and Maddison is expected to be sidelined for around 10 days to two weeks.
That means he is expected to miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup meeting with Charlton as well as Saturday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle. There is optimism that he could return in early September, depending on his recovery.
The timing is particularly frustrating for Roberto De Zerbi. Maddison is viewed as an important part of the manager’s plans, especially given his creativity and ability to operate between midfield and attack. His performance against Brentford was encouraging despite his limited minutes, including a 94% pass-completion rate and several progressive passes.
Tottenham are already dealing with several attacking absences, including Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski. Maddison’s absence therefore leaves De Zerbi with fewer creative options for the crucial opening fixtures.
The good news for Spurs is that the injury is not considered serious, and the club remains hopeful that Maddison will be back within two weeks rather than facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
In short: Maddison is out against Charlton and Newcastle, but Tottenham expect him to return after roughly 10 days to two weeks if his recovery progresses as expected.
