Thomas Frank confirms serious injury for James Maddison in pre-season friendly

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank admitted that James Maddison’s injury in Sunday’s 1-1 pre-season draw with Newcastle United “looks bad” after the midfielder was forced off in visible pain late in the game.

The 28-year-old playmaker, who has only recently returned to full fitness, went down clutching his leg with no contact from an opponent in the closing stages of the match.

Medical staff quickly called for a stretcher, and the England international was taken from the field as concerned team-mates, including Heung-Min Son, gathered around.

Son, playing in what was his farewell match for the club, was visibly emotional as Maddison departed on a stretcher.

Frank revealed afterwards that the early signs suggested a serious problem with the same knee that had kept Maddison out of last season’s Europa League final against Manchester United.

“Sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal,” said Frank.

“That’s what we got today. It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players.

“We’re pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before.”

Before the injury overshadowed proceedings, the friendly in Seoul had been an entertaining contest. Tottenham flew out of the blocks and took the lead in the fourth minute when Brennan Johnson struck from distance, his low effort leaving Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope with no chance.

Eddie Howe’s side grew into the match and were rewarded just before the interval.

Anthony Gordon found space down the left and squared the ball to Harvey Barnes, who coolly guided his finish into the bottom corner to level the score.

The second half saw both managers make a flurry of changes as pre-season priorities shifted towards fitness and squad rotation.

The flow of the game was disrupted by the substitutions and later by Maddison’s injury, which cast a shadow over the closing minutes.

The draw was ultimately of secondary importance to Tottenham, with all eyes now on the extent of Maddison’s setback and whether it could rule him out for an extended spell at the start of the season.