Ange Postecoglou will be without the midfielder for the second leg of the Europa League semi-final.
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Tottenham Hotspur will be without the services of playmaker James Maddison for the second leg of the Europa League semi final against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening.
The England international has picked up a knee injury and is not expected to play again this season. Maddison scored against the Norwegian side in the 3-1 win last week but limped off after 65 minutes.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou had confirmed that the player would undergo a scan but remained coy when providing an update on that following the 1-1 draw against West Ham on Sunday afternoon. The BBC now claims that the outcome is not a positive one with Maddison out for the rest of the season.
James Maddison injury blow confirmed
The outlet reports that the extent of the problem will ‘be clarified in the next 48 hours’ but that Maddison ‘is expected to miss the final three weeks of the season’. Speaking on Sunday, Postecoglou had said: “It doesn’t look great. We’re waiting for further information. We’ll just wait and see, hopefully we’ll probably get some clarity tomorrow. Fair to say, it’s not looking promising but I’ll wait and see.”
The former Leicester City man has already made 45 appearances for the club this season, scoring 12 goals and picking up 11 assists. He has either scored or assisted in each of Spurs’ last four Europa League fixtures and will be a big miss in Norway on Thursday night.
Speaking about the player following Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Manchester United in February, pundit Micah Richards outlined the player’s importance to the side. He said: “I think he was brilliant today but I think he was helped by Man United’s shape. He is the main man, he’s coming back. Everyone’s talking about they need the senior players back. Maddison’s that player that can make the difference.”
Tottenham Hotspur star expected to miss rest of season
The injury means that Maddison will miss the Europa League final in Bilbao, should Spurs hold onto their lead over Bodo/Glimt and make it that far. That fixture is in the calendar for May 21.
Maddison will also watch the remaining Premier League matches of the campaign from the sidelines. Postecoglou’s side face Crystal Palace and Brighton at home with a trip to Aston Villa sandwiched between those two matches.
The midfielder recently came out and spoke in favour of under-pressure Postecoglou, who signed the player from Leicester City for £40 million in 2023. He said: "We're behind the manager, 100 per cent. I think he's a great man.
"He's the first person to tell you, I've heard it myself, that we've had a poor season, especially in the league. We've been very good in Europe, but the league season's probably been unacceptable, and we can all take a collective responsibility for that. But he's my manager, he's my gaffer, I respect him an awful amount.
"The narrative is something that we players try and keep away from because it's not healthy to read into what you lot are talking about - the manager's position. I just know that I come into work every day and see the lads listening, taking on the messages, how he wants to play and trying to do what's best for this club.
"We're in a very good position in Europe, where we can still have a special season under his management. So, I'll continue to do that until the day he isn't here. He's my manager and I respect him an awful amount, so that will continue."
In other news, Next Tottenham Manager: Liverpool legend set to join Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid.