Tottenham spent a few anxious days wondering whether James Maddison had broken down again. According to manager Roberto De Zerbi, the answer is no. The midfielder is available for Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace, though the club will still have to decide whether to take a risk on him.
The Scare at Chelsea
Maddison, 29, limped off in the 51st minute of Spurs' 2-0 win at Chelsea last week. That was enough to rattle supporters, because he missed most of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. His return has not been smooth either. He fractured a shoulder in Tottenham's opening-weekend defeat at Brentford, then came back into the starting line-up earlier this month and marked it with a spectacular goal in a 3-1 win over Coventry.
What De Zerbi Said
The manager was open about the fact that Maddison has not trained like everyone else this week. "For tomorrow he is available and he is a special player for us," De Zerbi said. He explained that players coming back from long injuries have to put in more work than their team-mates, and that Maddison has been doing that consistently for four or five weeks. Missing two days of training, in his view, should not be a problem. The decision, he added, is whether the club take the risk or not.
That last line matters. Available is not the same as starting, and De Zerbi has left himself room to be cautious.
Why Spurs Need Him
Tottenham have won both games since Maddison returned to the starting side, beating Coventry and then Chelsea. They are 14th in the Premier League after climbing out of the relegation zone, and the margin for error is still thin. Maddison joined from Leicester City in 2023 on a five-year contract in a deal worth £40m. He has scored 17 goals and provided 21 assists in 85 appearances for the club, and has won seven England caps.
Those numbers explain why De Zerbi calls him special. They also explain why the staff will think hard before asking too much of a player who has spent so long on the treatment table. Saturday's call is a short-term one, but the way Spurs manage his workload over the next few weeks may count for more.
Player facts: James Maddison, 29, joined Tottenham from Leicester City in 2023 on a five-year contract for £40m. 17 goals and 21 assists in 85 appearances. Spurs are 14th in the Premier League and host Crystal Palace on Saturday. Source: BBC Sport.
0 Comments