Tottenham handed double injury boost as James Maddison sends heartfelt message

Thomas Frank has been handed two Tottenham injury boosts following their Champions League victory over Villarreal. After just a few minutes, a Luiz Junior own goal decided the clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs keeping their fourth clean sheet of the season.

Frank candidly admitted his side could have performed better in his post-match press conference, but that a win on opening night was important.

"The Champions League is unbelievably tough," he said. "It was a very good team we faced today. And managed to get out of a very tight game as winners.

"With that feeling that you fight and run and you do a lot of things as a group together, and then get out on top and win, it's exceptionally good. It just builds that extra foundation, extra layers. And sometimes [when] you can't hit the highest level, and still get away with a win, in an even game, I think it's fantastic."

Frank made two changes to his starting XI for the European tie, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison coming in for Joao Palhinha and the ineligible Mathys Tel. With Richarlison back late from Brazil duty and Dominic Solanke still out injured, Tel was the chosen striker from the off at London Stadium.

Solanke has missed Spurs' last three games courtesy of an ankle injury that has been plaguing him since pre-season. Frank appears optimistic he will not be out for a lengthy period, but the same cannot be said for James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

The two Tottenham attackers are recovering from long-term knee injuries, with Kulusevski expected back sooner - courtesy of his own update - having suffered his problem in May.

Speaking to Fotbollskanalen, during the September international break, he said: "The status is good. The rehab is going well.

"Every day I wake up with the same hunger and even more hunger with each passing day.

"I will be on a football pitch in the very, very near future. If everything goes, as it should, as it has so far, I'm very confident that I will be on the pitch in two to three months."

Maddison underwent surgery in August and has since posted several updates to his Instagram. The first is a video that shows him carefully stepping over hurdles inside the Hotspur Way gym.

He also posted an image of himself and Kulusevski on some workout bikes. In all caps, he captioned that story: "We're hungry. Let's eat (in the gym) @Dejan.k10." The pair continuing to do rehabilitation and likely increasing their fitness levels will come as positive update for Frank.

Just a few hours later, having been pitch side for Tottenham's victory over Villarreal, Maddison made another post to Instagram.

Alongside a photo of him at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he said: "Missing it so much. Long long way to go but I cannot wait to be back out there in that spurs shirt man!!!! [hands together and white heart emoji]."

Spurs' next match arrives this Saturday away at Brighton in the Premier League. Maddison scored in this exact fixture last season but his side lost 3-2 despite having a two-goal lead at half-time.

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