'Football can be brutal' - Thomas Frank confirms 'bad' James Maddison injury after Tottenham midfielder stretchered off in tears during pre-season draw with Newcastle

The England international came off the bench in the second half of Spurs' 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle on Wednesday, only to suffer a knee injury that forced him to be taken from the field. Tottenham boss Frank believes that the 28-year-old, who could not hold back the tears, has suffered a "bad" recurrence of the knee injury that flared up in May earlier this year.

He said, via Football London: "We're pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before. I think sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal. That's what we got today. It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelieveable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players. First we had the walkaround and then the team-mates gathered around and he was emotional. In the changing room it was more of the same. I just said a few things but not much because it's about Sonny and then he said a few things. It was beautiful."

Maddison has proven to be a key player for Tottenham since his 2023 move from Leicester City. The playmaker has scored 16 goals and added 21 assists and at times has been Spurs' best player. If the ex-Norwich City man is out for a long time, that is a huge blow for Frank's side ahead of the new season.

Tottenham fans will be eagerly awaiting to find out just how serious this Maddison injury is as they prepare for their final pre-season games. Next up for Spurs is a clash with Harry Kane's Bayern Munich on Thursday, followed by the UEFA Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain on August 13.