Tottenham Hotspur have received a timely boost ahead of their showdown with Manchester City, as James Maddison has intensified his work to regain full match fitness before Sunday’s clash in north London.
The 29-year-old has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines. He missed the closing stages of last season after picking up a knee injury in Spurs’ Europa League semi-final first leg win over Bodo/Glimt. After Tottenham secured a place in the final against Manchester United, Maddison confirmed the setback. His recovery suffered another blow in August when he was stretchered off during a pre-season draw with Newcastle in South Korea, having ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
In early December, Maddison was seen back on the pitch at Hotspur Way for the first time since the injury, working lightly with a member of the sports science team and getting a few touches on the ball. football.london reports that while the midfielder is eager to return before the end of the season, both player and club are keen to avoid any unnecessary risks. Even so, Maddison has recently increased the intensity of his rehabilitation.
That progress will be encouraging news for head coach Thomas Frank, who is under pressure to spark an upturn in form. Maddison has been sharing updates on his recovery via social media and recently posted an Instagram update captioned: “Progress in motion.” The post attracted likes from teammates and colleagues including Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Archie Gray. Days earlier, ahead of Spurs’ Champions League tie with Eintracht Frankfurt, Maddison shared training photos with the message: “Another day closer,” prompting supportive comments from players such as Morgan Rogers, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Jordan Henderson.
While Frank is pleased with Maddison’s recovery, his focus remains on translating European performances into consistent domestic results. Speaking on Friday, the Dane said Spurs have shown improved consistency in recent matches, particularly over the full 90 minutes in their last three games, and stressed the need to carry that level into Sunday and beyond.
Frank admitted the team have struggled to build momentum at times, describing the campaign as a transitional season that still demands ambition across all competitions. He acknowledged expectations were higher but noted that fine margins could easily have resulted in more points on the board, insisting the team must continue pushing forward.
He also had praise for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, calling him the best coach in the world and highlighting his tactical innovation and constant positional tweaks in attack. Frank warned of City’s threat from multiple areas when they are at their best, but added that Spurs have identified aspects of their play that they hope to exploit.
