James Maddison issues emotional message after Tottenham injury nightmare

James Maddison has issued an emotional message on social media as Son Heung-min prepares to leave Tottenham Hotspur.

Son received a guard of honour as he bade farewell to Spurs during the club's final pre-season tour match against Newcastle United on Sunday. The South Korean started the fixture in his home country the day after announcing during a press conference that he would be leaving the club after 10 years.

He was given more than an hour on the pitch and his every touch and run brought huge roars from the crowd inside the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The 33-year-old is now reportedly closing in on a £20million move to MLS side Los Angeles FC.

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And Maddison has paid tribute to Son with an emotional post on Instagram. "10 years ago you arrived here as a kid," he said. "Now you leave a legend & one of my best friends.

"You are Tottenham Sonny. Love you always brother."

Maddison's message comes after he was stretchered off in Sunday's game following a seemingly innocuous-looking challenge to win the ball. The 28-year-old instantly realised something was wrong, hopping on one foot and clutching his head before collapsing to the ground and signalling for the physio.

There was palpable concern all around as the Spurs playmaker was visibly in pain, with his close friend Son appearing particularly distressed from the dugout. The stretcher was summoned and Maddison was carefully loaded onto it, his hands still covering his face as he was carried off the pitch.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has since confirmed that Maddison's latest injury looks to be the same knee.

"We're pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before," the Dane said post-match. "I think sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal.

"That's what we got today. It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players."

Maddison now looks set for another spell on the sidelines ahead of the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on August 13 and Tottenham's Premier League opener against Burnley three days later.