Tottenham manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when star playmaker James Maddison could return from injury at a press conference ahead of Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham set to hit vital six-point shot against Forest
Sunday is not just a Premier League match.
When Forest arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it will be the most important 90 minutes of Tudor’s tenure to date, and perhaps the most important of the entire season for both clubs.
The teams are separated by one point and both have their sights set on the championship if things don’t pan out between now and May.
The win moved Spurs four points clear of the drop zone. If they lose, they could fall into the bottom three. It’s just as simple and just as cruel.
Tudor enters the game with more momentum than anyone could have predicted two weeks ago.
The draw at Anfield ended a six-game losing streak. Wednesday’s 3-2 win against Atlético Madrid was spirited and emotional, but while it ultimately wasn’t enough to overturn a 5-2 first-leg deficit, it still brought something invaluable: a sense of victory.
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The Serie A giants are chasing him.
Xavi Simmons and Archie Gray were sublime, Matthijs Tell caused Atlético problems all night and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium erupted into the loudest roar it had seen in months.
Although their Champions League dreams are over, this performance gave Spurs a huge boost in their bid to remain in the league.
Tudor are also set to have Joao Parinha return after coming through concussion protocol, with the Portuguese expected to rejoin the squad this weekend.
Dominic Solanke, who missed Atlético’s second leg with a hip problem, could also feature, with Tudor telling reporters this morning he was hopeful the striker would be available.
This is a huge boost.
Solanke’s physical play will change Tudor’s offense going forward.
However, the other important piece of news from today’s press conference, delivered via Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, is far more interesting in the long run.
Igor Tudor gives update on James Maddison’s injury after leaving Tottenham
Coach Tudor hinted that Maddison could finally return from his injury before the end of the season.
The 29-year-old hasn’t kicked a ball since August. Maddison ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul. It was a devastating blow for a player who had previously had knee problems and was already carefully managing his fitness.
A few days later he went under the knife. Seven months on, the long recovery is well underway, and Tudor and his medical staff are now allowing for some cautious optimism.
Maddison was spotted doing individual training on the grass with Palinha earlier this week, a small but significant sign that he’s slowly getting closer.
It remains to be seen whether he can actually return before the final whistle blows.
ACL recoveries are notoriously unpredictable and no one at the club intends to rush him. With seven games remaining after Sunday, the chances are slim.
But even the possibility of Maddison’s return, a player with real skill and creativity who can unravel defenses with one pass or a moment of inspiration, would be a morale boost for a team that has struggled through its worst period in decades.
First up is Forest.
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