Tottenham Hotspur took on Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly game that marked much more than just football for the North London club. The game had an extra something riding on it with it being Son Heung-min’s farewell in a Spurs shirt.
The South Korean got his moment in the Sun. Thomas Frank started Sonny in the game against the Magpies, and he also wore the captain’s armband. Ultimately, it was an emotional moment when he walked off the pitch in a Spurs jersey for one last time.
However, there was something even more sad that happened for Tottenham. Swiftly after coming on, one of the club captains, James Maddison, picked up an injury off the ball that saw his stretchered off the pitch.
James Maddison had to be stretchered off in a friendly for Tottenham vs. Newcastle.
Concern for an ACL injury due to the cut-and-pivot nature of the movement. Valgus at the knee, direction change, and non-contact nature aren't good signs.
There is a chance that he's only… pic.twitter.com/n5iahPeAY8
— Physio Scout | Football Injury Analysis (@physioscout) August 3, 2025
The worst is being feared
It didn’t look good for the 28-year-old at that moment. It didn’t look good with what Frank had to say after the game. Now, as per injury expert Physio Scout, took to X (h/t Give Me Sport) to offer their prognosis. Here is what it read:
“James Maddison had to be stretchered off in a friendly for Tottenham vs. Newcastle. Concern for an ACL injury due to the cut-and-pivot nature of the movement. Valgus at the knee, direction change, and non-contact nature aren’t good signs. There is a chance that he’s only suffered a meniscus, isolated MCL injury or just a bone bruise. Can’t be 100% confident on my hypothesis as camera angles are really limiting, with no front-on view. But based on the movements, the injury mechanism doesn’t look great.”
This is arguably the worst prognosis that Spurs could receive, for the ex-Foxes midfielder. It is worth noting that this is the same injury expert to perfectly predicted Manchester City star Rodri’s ACL injury last season.
If it is an ACL tear…
The manner in which James Maddison went to ground certainly didn’t look good and if it indeed is an ACL tear, it is safe to say that his 2025/26 season is effectively over. This would completely change the plans for Thomas Frank.
Of course, nothing is actually clear until the official medical assessment comes out. If the worst in fact comes true, then Tottenham would need to recalibrate their summer window plans and try and sign a new #10 for Thomas Frank.
In such a scenario, the signing becomes more of a necessity than a luxury. Dejan Kulusevski is also injured, and it might not be wise going into the new season with such a background. Let’s wait and see what the report is, on Maddison and how this affects Tottenham’s plans going forward.