James Maddison was hooked at half-time against West Ham (Picture: Getty)

James Maddison’s half-time substitution during Tottenham’s Premier League clash against West Ham was for ‘tactical reasons’, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

It was the Hammers who broke the deadlock in Saturday’s early kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Mohammed Kudus turning home Jarrod Bowen’s inviting cross on 18 minutes.

Spurs equalised 10 minutes before half-time through Dejan Kulusevski, who got the ball from Maddison before making progress towards the West Ham goal and beating Alphonse Areola from the edge of the box.

The only half-time change saw Pape Sarr replace Maddison, who appeared to take a knock just before the interval.
But TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher suspected Maddison has suffered an injury before saying his withdrawal was for tactical reasons.

‘You would think, I?m guessing, he?s taken a slight knock,’ Fletcher said before confirming: ‘Well, I?ve just been told there is no injury to Maddison.

‘It?s a tactical decision from the Spurs manager. To confirm, there?s no injury to Tottenham?s No. 10.’

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou and West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui (Picture: Getty)

Reacting to Postecoglou’s surprising decision, co-commentator Ally McCoist said: ‘He [Maddison] was quite quiet, wasn?t he"

‘Clearly Ange was expecting more from him and he?s though...