James Maddison Motivated to Overcome Injury Setback
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has stated that the "doubt, hate, and mockery" from some individuals will only serve to motivate him to recover stronger from a significant knee injury.
The 28-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a pre-season match against Newcastle in South Korea earlier this month.
Although Maddison is expected to miss a large portion of the upcoming season, he confirmed that his ACL reconstruction surgery was successful.
In a heartfelt message, he expressed gratitude to his family, friends, and fans who have shown support through social media. He remarked, "Lastly, to those of you who doubt, hate, and mock, you truly motivate me to levels I didn't know I had inside of me, so again, thank you. See you all on the other side."
Maddison, who earned his last of seven caps for the England national team in 2024, injured the same knee that had previously sidelined him during the Europa League final victory against Manchester United in May.
In an Instagram post, he described the injury as the "lowest low I’ve ever had," adding, "I am heartbroken that this injury has occurred at this time in my career."
He further lamented, "With the UEFA Super Cup tomorrow, the Premier League season on the horizon, an exciting Champions League campaign, and it being a World Cup year for England, it all feels very, very cruel."
Tottenham is set to face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup final on Wednesday, before hosting Burnley in their opening Premier League fixture on Saturday.
Maddison joined Tottenham from Leicester City in 2023, where he scored 12 goals in 45 appearances last season. In light of Maddison's injury, Tottenham is reportedly interested in acquiring Eberechi Eze to bolster their squad.