James Maddison shared an adorable moment with his three Tottenham-supporting children as he recovers from an ACL injury that will sideline him for most of the campaign.
The Englishman suffered a cruel blow during Spurs’ pre-season preparations, having only recently returned to action after a knee injury ended his 2024-25 campaign early and forced him to miss the side’s Europa League triumph.
Maddison underwent surgery on his right knee earlier this month and is recovery from what he described as the ‘lowest low he has ever had’.
But in his three young children, Leo, Delilah, and Rome, there appears to be more than enough joy to warm his heart during his time away from the field.
On Monday, the 28-year-old provided the cutest example, showing his kids passionately participating in Spurs’ famous ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ chant. The song, adopted by the north Londoners in the 1970s, is punctuated with supporter’s chants of ‘Tottenham’ at key moments throughout the tune.
And Maddison’s kids were shown to be very familiar with the number, straining every sinew to belt out ‘Tottenham’ after a little help from their old man with the verses.
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James Maddison shared an adorable moment with his three Tottenham-supporting children as he recovers from an ACL injury
The 28-year-old also over a glimpse into the state of his injury knee following surgery this month
The rendition produced considerable laughter from the midfielder, who filmed the performance from his bed, with his injured leg in view.
It follows Maddison’s heart-wrenching admission last week after his surgery.
Taking part in a pre-season clash with Newcastle in Seoul earlier this month, Maddison was caught in a seemingly innocuous challenge on the same knee that had troubled him last season – but the player was visibly agonised, collapsing to the turf before being carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
After returning to the UK, the midfielder was devastated to discover that he had damaged his cruciate ligament.
The former Leicester star was keen to look ahead to the future, as he broke his silence on the eve of Tottenham’s Super Cup appearance with a poignant message on social media that expressed how ‘cruel’ Maddison felt his injury woe had been.
Sharing a picture from his hospital bed with his three children Maddison wrote: ‘Lowest low I’ve ever had. Heartbroken at the fact this injury has occurred at this time in my career.
‘With the Super Cup tomorrow, the Premier League season on the horizon, the exciting Champions League campaign & it being a World Cup year for England it all feels very very cruel but nevertheless the ACL reconstruction surgery was successful.
‘To all my close friends and family, your support and love means absolutely everything to me (white heart emoji).
Last week, the Englishman broke his silence after suffering the injury that has put his 2025-26 season in danger
‘To those of you who have gone out of your way to message on social media platforms in support of me and my recovery even when we don’t know each other personally, I appreciate you all more than you’ll ever know so thank you (welling-up emoji).’
But Maddison also had a message to his critics, finishing his message: ‘And lastly to those of you who doubt, hate & mock. You truly motivate me to levels I didn’t know I had inside of me so again, thank you (loving emoji).
‘See you all on the other side (strength emoji).’
Maddison’s new head coach Thomas Frank spoke of his distress at not being able to call upon one of Spurs’ standout signings ahead of the club’s European clash with Paris Saint-Germain last week.
