Maddison opens up about ‘dark days’ out with injury after returning against Leeds | OneFootball

James Maddison has opened up about missing a year of football and says that he now feels “mentally strong” after going through “dark days” where he was unable to impact Spurs’ form.

In the first leg of Spurs’ Europa League semi-final at home against Bodo/Glimt the future was looking bright for Maddison. Tottenham had won 3-1, putting themselves in a very strong position to reach a European final, but that would be the final match in the Englishman’s Europa League run that year.

The midfielder admitted that he suffered a “partial ACL” tear in the match meaning he would miss the second leg out in Norway which Spurs won 2-0 and the final against Manchester United when Spurs would lift the Europa League trophy out in Bilbao.

He would return to first team action on Spurs’ pre season tour in East Asia where it looked like he was back fully fit and ready to be a part of Thomas Frank’s side, however it was not to be. During Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Arsenal in Hong Kong, Maddison suffered a full ACL injury and would not feature for Spurs until their 1-1 draw against Leeds on Monday.

Maddison opened up about the injury and how tough it was watch his side’s struggles from the sidelines.

“In my head the injury goes back to the Europa League semi here because I did a partial ACL out here against Bodo Glimt,” the midfielder explained. “I was told by the specialist [outside of the club] that I wouldn’t need surgery and rehab. 


“And then obviously it just didn’t recover properly and I needed the full surgery, which was what happened in South Korea. But that being said, the reception I got today will live with me forever.

“There have been some dark days in the last year, especially since the surgery. It’s been a really tough year for me mentally, but I’m at the end of the tunnel now, so I can kind of look back on that with fondness, because I’m as mentally strong as I can be after going through it, physically, I feel really good.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Spurs news by joining our Tottenham WhatsApp channel. 

Without Maddison and many other players out with long term injuries, Spurs have been in a relegation battle and still sit just two points above 18th-placed West Ham with two games to go. He was asked if it has been tough not being able helps his teammates.

“Yeah definitely,” he answered. “Because you watch through a lens of what would could I do differently to help. It’s been a tough season for Tottenham, really tough of the fans, really tough on the players, lots of manager changes.

“It’s been a season to forget, really, and not being able to affect it and actually help the club has been difficult.”

If you enjoy our articles, help us out by making Hayters.com one of your preferred sources on Google by clicking here.