James Maddison reveals how Yves Bissouma is feeling as new Tottenham injury updates emerge.

James Maddison and Yves Bissouma remain out injured, but Thomas Frank will be hoping several Tottenham players return in time for the showdown with Arsenal. Spurs’ injury problems have piled up in recent weeks, with Frank potentially missing up to 12 first-team players for the North London Derby. It’s far from ideal preparation as his side prepares to face the Premier League leaders.

Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Dominic Solanke, Bissouma and Archie Gray have either yet to feature this season or have played very limited minutes due to various injuries. There are also doubts surrounding Ben Davies, Kota Takai, Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani ahead of Sunday’s match at the Emirates Stadium. Pape Matar Sarr also limped off during Senegal’s 2–0 loss to Brazil and missed their next game against Kenya.

“We left him in London,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw explained. “He took a knock, and we felt two days wasn’t enough for him to recover. Since we were in his home city, we chose to leave him with his club so he could get treatment.”

Frank is eager to see some of his sidelined players return as soon as possible, and two senior names have been grafting in the gym during the international break. Maddison posted a photo on Instagram of himself training alongside Bissouma on Tuesday. Maddison has been out since suffering an ACL injury in pre-season and is set to miss most of the campaign, while Bissouma has not featured since injuring his ankle with Mali in October and undergoing surgery. Neither has played this season, and their return dates remain uncertain.

Maddison has also been a major support to Dragusin during the defender’s ACL recovery, even attending a behind-closed-doors friendly last week as Dragusin made his long-awaited return.

“Everyone helped me, but especially Madders,” Dragusin said after playing 45 minutes for the Spurs U21s against Leyton Orient. “He was there when I got injured, always cheering me up on tough days. Him being there meant a lot — we’re like a family here, and we don’t abandon each other in difficult moments.”

Maddison and Bissouma, along with the rest of Spurs’ injured players, may grow even closer over the coming weeks as they support each other through rehabilitation. Frank will be hoping their recoveries progress well — and that at least some of them are available for this weekend’s derby.