James Madison is getting closer and closer to returning from a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained during the preseason. The 29-year-old has missed the majority of the Premier League campaign after being carried off on a stretcher during Tottenham’s pre-season game against Newcastle United in Seoul.
Spurs have parted ways with two managers, Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, during their time on the sidelines, with Roberto De Zerbi now in the dugout. Since being sidelined, Madison has been documenting his recovery following surgery for a cruciate knee injury. In his latest Instagram update, the midfielder shared a clip of Spurs staff zooming in on his leg muscles. “Admin needs to work on the videography angle,” he wrote, followed by a laughing and muscle emoji.
This follows a video the Spurs of Madison shared during a gym workout that went viral. Supporters are amazed at the noticeable difference in muscle mass seen in his legs.
One fan commented, “I can see Madison losing a lot of weight, especially the muscles in his legs. It’s so fun to watch when he’s healthy. I hope he comes back soon,” while another added, “There’s something wrong with his legs.”
A third added: “Looking at it, it looks like it’s going to take a while, poor guy.” Another said: “If this is recent footage, it’s going to be a little longer…the difference in his legs shows that.”
The former Leicester City player has revealed how he felt isolated at times and struggled with the psychological aspects of his recovery. “It hurt,” he said. “It was difficult to accept because we had an important World Cup year coming up.
“But that’s the reality. You have to deal with it, work on your rehabilitation, and smile in the face of adversity. I’ve worked hard every day with my head down and my teeth gritted.
“There have been some tough days, some dark days, some lonely days. But I’ll get there and I’ll come back even better and stronger, I have no doubt.”
Although he has returned to the pitch in recent weeks, he is still expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season and it is unlikely that the club will take a chance on him.
