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The Tottenham star ruptured his ACL in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle
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The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Five times a week Four Four Two Daily Fantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more. Once a week . .. And it’s LIVE! Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off! Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. For James Maddison, the 2025/26 campaign had the potential to be one of the defining seasons of his career. With the playmaker still the right side of 30 years old and with Tottenham having qualified for the Champions League and England in a World Cup year, the former Leicester City playmaker will have been hoping that the stars were aligning for him this summer. Instead, Maddison would be reminded that football can be a cruel game, as he suffered an ACL injury during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United, derailing his season before it had even begun in earnest.
“It was painful, ” he tells Four Four Two, referring not just to the physical injury, but to the emotional impact. “It was difficult to accept, with a big season ahead, a World Cup year. “But it is what it is, you have to deal with it, crack on with the rehab and smile in the face of adversity. I’ve been working hard every day, head down, grit my teeth and get through it. Get VIP Tottenham Hotspur tickets HERE with Seat Unique! Tottenham Hotspur hospitality offers a diverse range of premium experiences, from vibrant social lounges to private boxes. Packages include premium padded seating in prime locations, exclusive lounge access pre- and post-match, gourmet dining, and a complimentary drinks package. Guests may also enjoy live entertainment and Spurs legend appearances. “There have been some tough days, some dark days, lonely days. But I’ll get there and be back better and stronger, I have no doubt. “The medical team at Spurs is amazing, the manager, all the coaches, everyone has been supportive. Like myself, they can’t wait to see me back on the pitch. ” The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. A typical recovery time for an ACL injury is around nine months, but Maddison is cautious when it comes to putting an exact date on when he expects to return. “I don’t know yet, ” he says. Asked whether he’d given up on his dream of making this year’s World Cup, he’d similarly rather not go into it. “That’s not my priority, ” he says. “I’m just focusing on the rehab, not looking too far ahead – it’s been day by day, getting my knee right, feeling good and feeling strong, and the rest will take care of itself, like it always has done. ”
Elite sport is also about how players deal with such setbacks. “Yeah, you’ve got to bounce back, ” he says. “I just can’t wait to be back doing my thing for Tottenham, proving myself and getting back to that level. ” Understandably, Maddison’s primary focus is getting back onto the pitch. “I’m coming into my prime. I’m so hungry, I’m working so hard. I’ve still got so much to give. ” Maddison was speaking at PUMA’s new store on Oxford Street in London, the brand’s first European flagship store. For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and Leeds Live among others and worked at Four Four Two throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
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