Another Blow for De Zerbi as Maddison Faces New Injury Layoff

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison is set for another spell on the sidelines after sustaining a shoulder fracture during the London club's opening match of the season. The playmaker missed the majority of last season due to a severe knee injury, and the 2026/27 campaign has started in a devastating fashion for him. He came on as a substitute for Mikey Moore in the second half of Saturday's 3-0 loss to Brentford and suffered a bad fall. Initial forecasts suggest he will miss at least several weeks while he recovers.

An MRI scan has confirmed that the 29-year-old midfielder has a fractured shoulder. However, Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi attempted to downplay the severity of the issue after Maddison took limited part in Monday's training session.

"Maddison sustained a minor shoulder injury," De Zerbi stated at a press conference ahead of Tottenham's Carabao Cup match against Charlton on Wednesday evening.

Last season, Maddison made just three appearances, totaling 34 minutes in the Premier League, after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during a pre-season encounter with Newcastle in August 2025. He was sidelined for 254 days and missed 46 matches due to the injury. The midfielder had hoped to start the new season strongly for Tottenham following significant investments in the summer transfer window.

Maddison is just one of many injured players for De Zerbi, who is also without Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, both suffering from cruciate ligament injuries. Mohammed Kudus is also unavailable, with De Zerbi confirming on Tuesday that the winger is "not yet ready." Pape Sarr is recovering from a hamstring injury, while Spurs are being cautious with Dejan Kulusevski, who hasn't played since May 2025 due to a serious knee injury.