Tottenham have suffered an early injury setback after Roberto De Zerbi confirmed James Maddison has picked up a shoulder problem.
The midfielder had only recently returned to competitive action following the serious knee injury that ruined most of his previous campaign.
Maddison came off the bench during Spurs’ disappointing 3-0 Premier League defeat at Brentford, but his comeback has now been interrupted again.
Maddison suffers shoulder injury
Maddison endured a difficult pre-season as Tottenham carefully managed his return following surgery on the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he suffered last summer.
De Zerbi was reluctant to rush the 29-year-old back, but Maddison had recovered sufficiently to make the squad for Tottenham’s Premier League opener.
He replaced Mikey Moore for the final 22 minutes against Brentford but fell awkwardly on his shoulder during his appearance.
Maddison subsequently underwent assessment, and De Zerbi has now confirmed the injury ahead of Tottenham’s Carabao Cup clash with Charlton Athletic.
“Maddison suffered a small injury in his shoulder,” the Spurs manager confirmed.
The description of the problem as “small” offers some encouragement, although another interruption is far from ideal given Maddison’s lengthy rehabilitation from his ACL injury.
De Zerbi must manage Maddison carefully
Tottenham will be particularly cautious with Maddison after the midfielder missed most of last season.
His substitute appearance against Brentford was supposed to represent another important step towards rebuilding his match fitness. Instead, De Zerbi must now manage another physical problem.
Spurs have significantly strengthened their attacking options this summer, but Maddison remains an important creative presence when fully fit.
With Tottenham facing Charlton in the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday, there appears little reason for De Zerbi to take unnecessary risks with the midfielder.
The bigger priority will be ensuring Maddison can return properly as Tottenham attempt to recover from their nightmare start at Brentford.
Key Points
- James Maddison has suffered a shoulder injury following Tottenham’s defeat at Brentford.
- Roberto De Zerbi described the issue as a “small injury”.
- The 29-year-old had only recently returned after missing most of last season with an ACL injury.
- Maddison played the final 22 minutes of Spurs’ 3-0 opening-day defeat.
- Tottenham face Charlton Athletic next in the Carabao Cup.
What’s Next?
Tottenham will continue assessing Maddison before determining when he can return to full training and competitive action.
Given his lengthy absence last season, De Zerbi is unlikely to take unnecessary risks with his fitness, particularly against Charlton in the Carabao Cup.
More clarity over the severity of the shoulder problem and Maddison’s potential return date should emerge once Tottenham complete their assessment.
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