James Maddison shares emotional post from hospital after ACL surgery as Tottenham star opens up on 'the lowest low' of his career

James Maddison called his shock pre-season ACL rupture the 'lowest low he has ever had', after the freak accident effectively ended his Premier League season before it had begun. 

The Tottenham star had struggled with a knee issue towards the tail-end of the 2024-25 season and was forced to miss out on taking part in his side's Europa League triumph in May. 

But after the summer break, Maddison believed he had worked himself back to full fitness. 

Taking part in a pre-season clash with Newcastle in Seoul last week, Maddison was caught in a seemingly innocuous challenge on the same knee - but the player was visibly agonised, collapsing to the turf before being carried off the pitch on a stretcher. 

After returning to the UK, the midfielder was devastated to discover that he had damaged his cruciate ligament. 

Maddison's surgery on his right knee took place last week, but he will be kept out of action for several months and Spurs are yet to confirm a timeline for his return to training. 

The 28-year-old, however, was keen to look ahead to the future, as he broke his silence on the eve of Tottenham's Super Cup appearance with a poignant message on social media that expressed how 'cruel' Maddison felt his injury woe had been. 

Sharing a picture from his hospital bed with his three children Leo, Delilah, and Rome, Maddison wrote: 'Lowest low I’ve ever had. Heartbroken at the fact this injury has occurred at this time in my career. 

'With the Super Cup tomorrow, the Premier League season on the horizon, the exciting Champions League campaign & it being a World Cup year for England it all feels very very cruel but nevertheless the ACL reconstruction surgery was successful.

'To all my close friends and family, your support and love means absolutely everything to me (white heart emoji). 

'To those of you who have gone out of your way to message on social media platforms in support of me and my recovery even when we don’t know each other personally, I appreciate you all more than you’ll ever know so thank you (welling-up emoji).'

But Maddison also had a message to his critics, finishing his message: 'And lastly to those of you who doubt, hate & mock. You truly motivate me to levels I didn’t know I had inside of me so again, thank you (loving emoji). 

'See you all on the other side (strength emoji).' 

Maddison's new head coach Thomas Frank spoke of his distress at not being able to call upon one of Spurs' standout signings ahead of the club's European clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening. 

'I think it's disappointing, but also devastating for me, and mainly Madders that he's out of the team,' he said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. 

'We will miss him and no doubt he will miss playing football.' 

Tottenham fans will be hoping that their club makes in-roads in the transfer market in a bid to compensate for the loss of the playmaker, who scored 12 goals in 45 appearances for Spurs last season.  

According to Opta, Spurs have won 51 per cent of their top-flight matches with Maddison in the side (24/47) over the past two seasons, compared to just 24 per cent (7/29) without him. 

As per Daily Mail Sport, the north London side are mulling a move for £52million-rated Como starlet Nico Paz in a bid to replace Maddison. 

The club are thought to be yet to make a concrete offer for the 20-year-old Argentinian, however. 

But after missing out on one of their top targets of the window so far - Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White - Spurs are thought to be keen to secure at least one new star before the window. 

Daily Mail Sport has reported the club's interest in both Manchester City star Savinho and Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, with the club believed to be gearing up to make a bid for the FA Cup winner later this week.