Tottenham dealt fresh injury blow as Ange Postecoglou explains James Maddison absence

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Evening Standard

·26 January 2025

Tottenham dealt fresh injury blow as Ange Postecoglou explains James Maddison absence

Midfielder not in Spurs squad for Premier League clash with Leicester

Ange Postecoglou has explained why James Maddison is not in the Tottenham squad for their game against Leicester.

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Maddison arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the Spurs squad on Sunday but the midfielder was a surprise absence when Postecoglou named his team.

Speaking to Sky Sports before the game, Postecoglou said: “He [Maddison] is still a bit sore from the other night.

“It took a fair bit out of him and he was not 100 per cent, so he misses out.”

Maddison scored and stood up with good performance when he played 89 minutes to help Spurs beat Hoffenheim 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday.

Asked if the injury is anything serious, Postecoglou said: “No we hope not. He should be alright for next week.”

Spurs play Elfsborg in the Europa League next Thursday before travelling to Brentford in the Premier League next Sunday.

Postecoglou is also without Djed Spence against Leicester after he failed a late fitness test.

Pape Sarr passed a late fitness test to start in midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall.

Losing Maddison and Spence for the Leicester game is another blow for Spurs, who remain without Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Timo Werner and Wilson Odobert.