James Maddison Injury Update: Tottenham's Early Setback

Roberto De Zerbi has been dealt an early-season setback with James Maddison picking up a fresh injury just as he was easing back into competitive action for Tottenham.

The midfielder, who missed the bulk of last season after surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, was handled carefully throughout pre-season. De Zerbi refused to rush him, limiting his minutes as Maddison worked his way back from the long lay-off.

Even so, the playmaker made the bench for the opening weekend of the Premier League and came on for Mikey Moore for the final 22 minutes of Tottenham’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday. Those minutes came at a cost.

Maddison landed awkwardly on his shoulder during that late cameo and has since undergone assessment. Speaking before Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup second-round tie against Charlton in north London, De Zerbi confirmed the setback but played down the severity.

“Maddison suffered a small injury in his shoulder,” the Spurs head coach said, describing the issue as minor.

The news adds to a mixed fitness picture for Tottenham.

Mohammed Kudus remains unavailable, with De Zerbi revealing the Ghanaian forward is “not yet ready” to feature as he continues his recovery from a long-term quad injury. Kudus has been out since early January and is still building up the conditioning required to return.

There is better news in defence. New captain Micky van de Ven will be named among the substitutes against Charlton, a significant boost given he did not play a single minute in pre-season after his World Cup campaign with the Netherlands and then sat out the Brentford defeat with a minor, unspecified problem.

His deputy, Pedro Porro, is also set for a place on the bench. The right-back missed pre-season and the Brentford game while regaining full fitness following his role in Spain’s World Cup triumph in North America earlier in the summer.

Upcoming Match

Tottenham’s attack, though, could have a very different look in the cup.

Record signing Savio is in line to make his Spurs debut after completing an £85million move from Manchester City on Tuesday. De Zerbi also confirmed that Dominic Solanke is expected to start up front, with highly rated teenager Luca Williams-Barnett among the substitutes.

Injury worries, a reshaped leadership group, and a marquee signing ready to be unleashed: Charlton will walk into a Tottenham side still under construction, but one that suddenly has plenty of intrigue around it.