Tottenham fear James Maddison will face a LONG time out with his ankle injury worse than expected
- Maddison was substituted in the first half against Chelsea with an ankle injury
- The ankle problem has led to the midfielder withdrawing from the England squad
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Tottenham fear James Maddison’s ankle injury is worse than initially expected amid growing concerns he could face a long-term layoff.
Maddison was substituted in the first half of Tottenham’s loss to Chelsea on Monday night; head coach Ange Postecoglou confirmed after the match that he had suffered an ankle problem.
The attacking midfielder was named in the England squad on Thursday and appears to allay fears that he will spend a prolonged period on the sidelines.
However, Maddison has withdrawn from the international side to face Malta and North Macedonia, raising concerns over his suitability.
And Mail Sport has learned that there are major concerns at Spurs that Maddison, who has become an instant hit since arriving from Leicester, could face a lengthy period of exclusion.
Tottenham fear that James Maddison could face a long suspension due to an ankle injury
The ankle problem forced Maddison off in the first half of Tottenham’s home defeat to Chelsea
Tottenham lost both Maddison and Micky van de Ven to injuries in the first half on Monday
Postecoglou will be asked about Maddison’s fitness during his press conference ahead of the game against Wolves.
But the prospect of losing Maddison, who has become such a crucial player for the club, will be a major concern behind the scenes.
Maddison has undergone a series of tests in recent days to determine the extent of the damage to his ankle.
England manager Gareth Southgate said on Thursday: ‘He seems positive. There is clearly an element of doubt in it. But I think at the time of the decision (of his substitution in the first half against Chelsea) they had just gone to 10, maybe the manager thought: ‘I’ve got a player who might take a hit and all we’ve got is ten players.’
But a statement from Spurs this morning said: ‘We can confirm that James Maddison has been withdrawn from the England squad due to an ankle injury.
‘The midfielder will not take part in the Three Lions’ UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia and will remain at Hotspur Way for rehabilitation with the Club’s medical staff.’
The concerns over Maddison’s long-term fitness come amid a growing injury crisis, with Richarlison ruled out after pelvic surgery and key defender Micky van de Ven facing months of a hamstring injury.