Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has suffered a shoulder injury but should be back on the pitch in a 'couple of weeks', according to Football London correspondent Alasdair Gold.
After missing almost the entire 2025-26 campaign through injury, Maddison was back on the pitch for Tottenham as a second-half substitute against Brentford on Saturday, as Roberto De Zerbi's men fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat on the opening day of the new Premier League season.
Maddison fell awkwardly on his shoulder during his 22-minute cameo against the Bees, which raised fresh injury concerns over the 29-year-old.
A top Spurs source on X claimed on Tuesday afternoon that the issue was 'not good at all', raising concern among the fanbase that the Englishman could be set for another extended spell on the sidelines.
However, Gold has moved to allay those fears with his own post on Tuesday night, 24 hours before the club faces London rivals Charlton Athletic in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
According to David Ornstein, Maddison actually suffered a slight fracture to his shoulder in the fall, with scans showing minor damage, but the midfielder is expected back in action in 10-14 days.
The former Leicester City star actually trained on Monday, so there is optimism at the club that it isn't serious and that he will be back in action as soon as possible.
Maddison Can be Difference-Maker for De Zerbi
The news that Maddison could only be sidelined for up to two weeks is a huge boost for Tottenham and De Zerbi.
The defeat to Brentford was yet another sign that Spurs lack leadership, personality and quality on the pitch, and the 29-year-old brings all three of those things.
De Zerbi showed how highly he rates the midfielder by naming him on the substitutes' bench in their relegation fight last season, despite the fact he was unable to come on to contribute as he battled his way back to fitness.
The Italian coach revealed what he brings to the group, speaking in May.
Experience, personality, calm. If you have more experience, you are calmer. You can consider the timing when you have to speak or not.
"I want him to feel that he wants to stay inside the group even when he doesn't play.
"Because when he is ready to play, I want him 100 per cent inside the plan and the team."
Maddison may have played the last quarter of the game against the Bees at the weekend, but the game was ultimately already over at that stage.
Spurs lacked creativity in particular against Keith Andrews' side, with Conor Gallagher, Sandro Tonali and Lucas Bergvall as their starting midfield trio at the Gtech Community Stadium, and De Zerbi will be desperate to have a fully fit Maddison back on the pitch consistently to help with that.