AliousTottenham secured their first victory of 2026 at the weekend with a narrow 1-0 win over bottom-placed Wolves at Molineux, thanks to a decisive goal from Joao Palhinha.
However, West Ham’s late 2-1 triumph over Everton at the London Stadium ensured the gap to safety remains at two points, with just four matches left to play.
James Maddison has been included on the bench in Spurs’ last two fixtures but is yet to make an appearance this season as he continues his recovery from injury.
As the England international edges closer to a return, Jamie Carragher has highlighted his importance to Roberto De Zerbi’s survival hopes, comparing his influence to that of Jarrod Bowen at West Ham.
Ahead of the Wolves clash, De Zerbi confirmed that although Maddison was part of the matchday squad, he is still not fully ready to return to action.
It remains unclear exactly when the midfielder will be fit enough to play, but there is hope he could feature as soon as next Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa.
| James Maddison’s PL numbers at Tottenham | Statistic |
| Appearances | 58 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 16 |
| Chances created | 108 |
| Shots | 97 |
Tottenham still have crucial fixtures ahead, including clashes with Leeds United, Chelsea, and Everton over the coming weeks.
Speaking on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher stressed the potential importance of James Maddison in Spurs’ fight for survival.
“James Maddison, I feel, may have to play a role in keeping Tottenham up,” Carragher said. “He’s the only one capable of producing something special, like Jarrod Bowen or Morgan Gibbs-White. He’s coming back from a serious injury, so we’re probably talking about 15–20 minutes off the bench.
“But when I look at that squad, he’s the one player who can create a moment of magic, especially away from home.”
Carragher’s assessment may not be far off. Tottenham have shown signs of progress under Roberto De Zerbi, picking up four points from their last two matches, but they still lack consistent individual brilliance in key moments.
While Xavi Simons has demonstrated flashes of that quality recently, he is ruled out for the rest of the season, leaving a creative void.
When it comes to Maddison’s influence, the numbers underline his importance. According to Sofascore, he was Spurs’ highest-rated player last season with a 7.30 average rating.
The 29-year-old netted nine Premier League goals from an expected goals (xG) figure of 5.83, highlighting his ability to outperform the chances he receives.
Beyond scoring, his creative impact has been just as vital. Maddison contributed seven assists and averaged 1.3 key passes per 90 minutes last season. For comparison, Pedro Porro is the only current Spurs player exceeding that this term, with 1.5.
Overall, Maddison has registered 13 goals, 16 assists, and created 108 chances for Tottenham—output that has been sorely missed under managers Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor, and now De Zerbi.
As Carragher suggested, even limited appearances of 15–20 minutes could prove decisive. That explains why De Zerbi has been keen to include Maddison on the bench, knowing that the sooner he can reintroduce him, the better Tottenham’s chances of avoiding relegation.
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