James Maddison will miss Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures against Charlton Athletic and Newcastle.
The midfielder had spent 375 days on the sidelines before finally returning for the last three Premier League games of last season. Roberto De Zerbi had been counting on having him available from the start of this campaign, but he was absent throughout pre-season.
He did get onto the pitch for a 22-minute cameo during the 3-0 defeat to Brentford, catching the eye in the process — but he’s now facing another spell out after landing awkwardly on his shoulder during that match.
There’s now clarity on his expected return timeline, and it won’t be welcome news for De Zerbi.
Early suggestions were that Maddison might be fit for the Newcastle fixture this weekend, but that won’t happen. David Ornstein reported on Tuesday evening that the 29-year-old suffered a fractured shoulder against Brentford and has since undergone a scan, with the prognosis pointing to somewhere between 10 days and two weeks on the sidelines.
It’s a frustrating setback for De Zerbi, who has made no secret of how central Maddison is to his plans this season. Speaking back in May, the Italian described him as a player of real quality and character, someone he expects to be crucial to the side.
That importance was on full display against Brentford, where Maddison posted a 94 percent pass accuracy, according to Fotmob data. He completed three passes into the final third and attempted five line-breaking passes, while also chipping in defensively with a clearance and a recovery — though he struggled in ground duels, winning just two of seven.
It was, on the whole, an encouraging cameo, which only sharpens the frustration of not having him available. The longer his recovery drags on, the further it pushes back his path to full match fitness and a return to the starting lineup — a situation that’s far from ideal for either player or manager.
