Tottenham midfielder James Maddison, who has been sidelined for a long time, updated his social media with the latest milestone in his recovery from a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Madison has been sidelined for six months since suffering a severe knee injury during the preseason tour in Korea last summer. For professional athletes, an ACL tear often means a long and tedious physical therapy session.

In the video released this Monday, Madison finally regained control of the ball. Although the footage is simple, it signifies that his recovery has moved from purely physical rehabilitation to ball training, a crucial step before his return to the field.

In the video, Maddison is wearing a classic retro jersey from the 2011-12 season, with the name of legendary midfielder Rafael van der Vaart on the back—a name that commemorates countless moments of brilliance at this stadium. Wearing his predecessor's jersey seems to foreshadow Maddison's desire to return to the pitch soon and recapture the brilliance of a midfield maestro.

What's even more touching is that the video isn't just about Madison himself. At the end of the video, Madison specifically imitates his teammate Mohammed Kudus's signature celebration move and tags him.

Kudus suffered a quadriceps injury in the recent match against Sunderland and will also face a period of absence. As someone who has been through the ordeal of injury, Maddison used this method to convey support and encouragement to his teammates, demonstrating the team's excellent unity.