Tottenham handed James Maddison injury boost ahead of Man City clash as Frank focus sharpens<\/p>\n
Tottenham Hotspur have received encouraging news ahead of Sunday\u2019s heavyweight clash with Manchester City, with James Maddison stepping up his recovery as he works towards a return to full fitness.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old midfielder has been sidelined since the end of last season after suffering a knee injury during Spurs\u2019 Europa League semi-final first-leg victory over Bodo\/Glimt. Maddison later confirmed the setback shortly after Tottenham sealed their place in the final against Manchester United.<\/p>\n
His recovery suffered another blow in August when he was stretchered off during a pre-season friendly draw with Newcastle in South Korea. The England international ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, ruling him out for an extended period.<\/p>\n
In early December, Maddison was spotted back on the grass at Hotspur Way for the first time since the injury, working alongside a member of the club\u2019s sports science staff and taking light touches of the ball.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the time, head coach Thomas Frank urged patience.
\n\u201cIt is very early stages, still a long-term injury,\u201d Frank said. \u201cGood to see him out there, but very early stages, and there is no specific time frame. It will be a long time, unfortunately, before he is available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maddison is understood to be targeting a return before the end of the season, though both player and club remain cautious to avoid any risk of aggravating the injury. Despite that, the playmaker has recently increased the intensity of his rehabilitation, offering hope of progress.<\/p>\n
The midfielder has been sharing updates from his recovery on social media, most recently posting a training clip on Instagram with the caption: \u201cProgress in motion.\u201d The post drew support from teammates and fans alike, with Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Archie Gray among those to react.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, ahead of Tottenham\u2019s UEFA Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, Maddison also posted images of himself in the club\u2019s alternative training kit, writing: \u201cAnother day closer.\u201d Several fellow professionals, including Morgan Rogers, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Jordan Henderson, sent messages of encouragement.<\/p>\n
While Maddison\u2019s progress is a welcome sight, Frank remains focused on improving Tottenham\u2019s domestic form and building on recent performances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely need to build on some good performances,\u201d the Dane said on Friday. \u201cNot everything has been perfect, but over the last 10 games it\u2019s been more consistent. We compete better and are constantly improving, especially in the last three games over the full 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think those performances are what we need to bring into Sunday and going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on Spurs\u2019 season, Frank added:
\n\u201cThis is a transitional season where we need to be very ambitious and do as well as we can in every competition. I expected and hoped we would be higher, and I think with some fine margins we could easily have had six more points. Unfortunately, we haven\u2019t, but we need to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frank also had words of praise for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of the weekend showdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cPep is the best coach in the world,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s extremely innovative, always changing things, playing around with positions and offensive structures. When City are in full flow, there\u2019s a threat from so many angles. We need to be aware of that, but I also see areas we can hopefully exploit.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Tottenham prepare for another major test, Maddison\u2019s steady recovery offers a timely boost, even if his return remains a longer-term objective rather than an immediate solution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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