JAMES MADDISON has opened up on his three-month injury layoff which stopped him being a dad to his newborn twins.

The father of three, who moved to Spurs from Leicester for £45million last summer, was flying before he ruptured his ankle ligaments against Chelsea in November.

Maddison, 27, returned at the end of January but the Tottenham playmaker has failed to hit the heights of his early season form as he prepares for Sunday's North London derby with Prem leaders Arsenal.

Maddison said: “Physically it was tough because I ruptured the ligaments in my ankle which affected everything in my life.

“You’re on crutches, you’re in a boot, you can’t get around the house, you can’t really be a dad.”

Maddison and partner Kennedy Alexa are parents to three kids, Leo, 2, and twins Delilah and Rome, who were born last July.

And the Three Lions star, who aims to end the season on a major high by securing Champions League football at Spurs and Euro 2024 success with England, admitted the injury blow impacted on his personal life as he took his frustration out on his loved ones.

At the time, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou revealed Maddison’s injury was “worse than first thought” and that led to “grouchy” and “snappy” moods.

Maddison, who took part in the Boots Online Doctor YouTube series in collaboration with Sky Sports, added: “I often found when I was injured, I was getting very frustrated with not being back quicker.

“It would almost creep into my personal life a little bit.

“I was probably a bit more grouchy and snappy, just even with my partner and my mum and dad.

“It creeps in without you even realising it. So talking and getting stuff off my chest helps.”

Maddison’s Spurs return to action for the first time since their 4-0 hammering at Newcastle a fortnight ago and will be hell-bent on trying to stop Arsenal lifting a first league title since 2003-04’s Invincibles.

But the former Leicester midfielder says he can deal with footballing setbacks due to the stable environment around him.

Maddison, who has scored four goals in 27 appearances for club and country this term, said: “I’m very fortunate. I’ve got a brilliant network around me. My parents, my partner, my best friends, my agent.

“Everything I’ve had since day one. I’ve never changed.

“I’m very fortunate because not everyone has that.

"My message to others would be to seek the person you can get stuff off your chest and be completely 100 per cent honest with because it definitely does help.”