Tottenham supervisor Thomas Frank admitted that James Maddison’s damage in Sunday’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle United “looks bad” after the midfielder was pressured off in seen ache late within the recreation.
The 28-year-old playmaker, who has solely not too long ago returned to full health, went down clutching his leg with no contact from an opponent within the closing levels of the match.
Medical employees shortly referred to as for a stretcher, and the England worldwide was taken from the sector as involved team-mates, together with Heung-Min Son, gathered round.
Son, taking part in in what was his farewell match for the membership, was visibly emotional as Maddison departed on a stretcher.
Frank revealed afterwards that the early indicators advised a major problem with the identical knee that had stored Maddison out of final season’s Europa League closing in opposition to Manchester United.
“Sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal,” mentioned Frank.
“That’s what we obtained right this moment. It seems to be like with Madders a nasty damage after which on the opposite facet unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle gamers.
“We’re pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before.”
Before the damage overshadowed proceedings, the pleasant in Seoul had been an entertaining contest. Tottenham flew out of the blocks and took the lead within the fourth minute when Brennan Johnson struck from distance, his low effort leaving Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope with no likelihood.
Eddie Howe’s facet grew into the match and had been rewarded simply earlier than the interval.
Anthony Gordon discovered area down the left and squared the ball to Harvey Barnes, who coolly guided his end into the underside nook to stage the rating.
The second half noticed each managers make a flurry of adjustments as pre-season priorities shifted in direction of health and squad rotation.
The move of the sport was disrupted by the substitutions and later by Maddison’s damage, which solid a shadow over the closing minutes.
The draw was finally of secondary significance to Tottenham, with all eyes now on the extent of Maddison’s setback and whether or not it might rule him out for an prolonged spell in the beginning of the season.
