Tottenham are without two key players for the rest of the year.

Midfielder James Maddison and centre-back Micky van de Ven will both be out for the next few months with injuries sustained in the Premier League defeat to Chelsea.

Coach Ange Postecoglou said in a press conference on November 10th that Van de Ven's hamstring injury was "quite serious," meaning the Dutch defender would be "out for two months, until the new year."

Maddison's injury was more serious than initially thought, as he left the pitch with an ankle injury. "The next day, Maddison wasn't feeling well, so we took him for an X-ray," the Australian coach added. "It wasn't good, so he'll probably have to wait until next year to return."

James Maddison suffered a left ankle injury during the match against Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, in the 11th round of the Premier League on the evening of November 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters — James Maddison suffered a left ankle injury during the match against Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, in the 11th round of the Premier League on the evening of November 6, 2023. Photo: *Reuters*

Both players sustained injuries within minutes of the Chelsea match, without any collisions. Maddison had already had an ankle problem in the previous few games, and it worsened after a change of direction during the Chelsea game. The 27-year-old midfielder fell and was treated before continuing to play. However, a few minutes later, Postecoglou substituted him to prevent a more serious injury.

Van de Ven also sustained an injury during a sprint with striker Nicolas Jackson. While at high speed, the Dutch defender clutched his hamstring and limped before falling to the ground. The scene revealed a hamstring tear, and this is not the first time the 22-year-old has been injured in a similar location.

Maddison and Van de Ven have started all 11 of Tottenham's Premier League matches this season, despite only joining the team in the summer of 2023. According to Whoscored , Maddison has averaged 7.58 out of 10 points per game this season, the highest in the team. The former Leicester midfielder has scored three goals, provided five assists, and was chosen as the Premier League Player of the Month for August.

Van de Ven is 1.93m tall, the second tallest player in the team after goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. This center-back is not only strong in aerial duels, but also a good passer, helping Tottenham play Postecoglou's possession-based style of football. Tottenham still have nine more matches to play until the end of the year, and they could suffer significant losses without these two key players.

Another key Tottenham player, center-back Cristian Romero, will be suspended for the next three matches after receiving a direct red card against Chelsea. Rising left-back Destiny Udogie will also miss one match due to an indirect red card. Midfielder Yves Bissouma will be suspended for one match if he receives another yellow card in any of the following matches.

If Maddison and Van de Ven are not fit to return by January 2024, Tottenham will face even greater difficulties. This is because captain Son Heung-min will be absent during that month due to his participation in the Asian Cup with South Korea, while central midfielders Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr may also be playing in the African Cup of Nations.

Hoang An

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