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‘Those dark days…’ – James Maddison opens up on the emotional toll of ACL recovery and Dejan Kulusevski’s inspiring return

James Maddison reflects on his ACL recovery and Dejan Kulusevski’s emotional return after Tottenham’s win.

By Shehryar Edibam · To The Lane And Back

Published: Monday, 19 October 2026 at 10:41 PM

Key Things to Know

James Maddison discussed the mental strain of recovering from an ACL injury following his goal against Coventry City.
Maddison shared his pride in teammate Dejan Kulusevski, who made his long-awaited return from a prolonged injury absence.
The 29-year-old midfielder told the BBC that scoring such goals provided light during dark rehabilitation days.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has spoken about the emotional challenges of his ACL rehabilitation following a scoring return and teammate Dejan Kulusevski's comeback. Speaking to the BBC after scoring a curled goal against Coventry City, Maddison described the difficult psychological hurdles and solitary conditioning required to recover from a serious knee injury.

Maddison also expressed pride in seeing Kulusevski return to action following his own prolonged absence. The article notes that having both playmakers reintegrated into competitive matches strengthens the squad under manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Read the full article on To The Lane And Back