Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a decisive factor if Tottenham Hotspur hopes to avoid relegation and remain in the Premier League. The north London side have been plagued by a cascade of injuries, and their recent 1-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers – their first win of the 2026 calendar year – was achieved despite missing several key attackers.
Among the casualties is Xavi Simons, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, a loss that Carragher described as a "major blow" to Spurs' chances of staying up. Simons' £52 million departure from the squad is just the latest in a string of setbacks. Tottenham sit two points adrift of safety with four matches left, after losing summer recruit Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero to season‑ending injuries early in De Zerbi's tenure. Dejan Kulusevski has also been sidelined, and James Maddison has not featured since August after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Although Maddison was named in the last two matchday squads, the coaching staff have deemed him not yet fit for a full comeback. During an appearance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher argued that Maddison possesses the "magic" Spurs need as they fight to avoid a drop into the Championship.
He pointed out that the club's injury woes have been extraordinary: three players who operate in similar attacking roles – Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons – have all suffered ACL problems. "If they didn't have this injury record they wouldn't be in this position," Carragher said, adding that Maddington's return could be pivotal. The former Liverpool and England defender highlighted Maddison's unique qualities, comparing him to fellow creative talents Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White. "He is the only one I can think of who could do something special," Carragher remarked.
Even if Maddison were only to feature for fifteen to twenty minutes off the bench, Carragher believes his presence could provide the spark needed, particularly in the upcoming away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea. "He will still want the ball, no matter the situation, and that kind of drive can be decisive when the fear of relegation looms," Carragher added. Everton forward Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall echoed this sentiment on the same programme, calling Maddison "probably the most creative player in the Spurs squad." He suggested that the midfielder could be called upon in the final stages of a match to manufacture a chance or even score, noting that Tottenham currently lack a reliable goal‑scoring outlet. Tottenham's schedule now includes two home games against Leeds United and Everton, and two challenging away trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Carragher warned that despite the Wolves win, Spurs may still struggle to find the goals needed to match the output of relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, both of which boast attacking options such as Bowen and Gibbs‑White. "It's going to be really tough for Spurs," he said, emphasizing that the fanbase might be confused by a single victory in a season that has otherwise been barren. Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood also weighed in, blaming the spate of injuries for derailing Tottenham's campaign.
He argued that many of the setbacks appear to be non‑contact soft‑tissue issues, suggesting a deeper problem within the club's medical or training practices. Sherwood warned that if key players like Kulusevski and Maddison continue to miss large chunks of the season, the ultimate price could be relegation. Sherwood compared Tottenham's attacking options unfavourably with those of West Ham and Nottingham Forest, noting that the latter clubs field front‑four formations featuring high‑calibre forwards.
"Spurs don't have a player in the attack that can even come close to those," he said, expressing concern about the team's ability to break down well‑organised defences. Looking ahead to the crucial fixtures at Villa Park and Stamford Bridge, both Carragher and Sherwood expressed doubts about Tottenham's capacity to find the net. "Who is going to score for Spurs?
Who is going to create?" Sherwood asked, highlighting the importance of defensive solidity if a goal does come. He predicted that any victory in those games would likely require a clean sheet, placing immense pressure on the remaining home matches against Leeds and Everton.
In summary, the consensus among pundits is that James Maddison's return could inject much‑needed creativity and perhaps the decisive moment Tottenham need to secure enough points to stay in the top flight. Whether a brief cameo off the bench will be enough remains to be seen, but with the club's injury list still looking bleak, every ounce of talent will be vital as the season draws to its dramatic conclusion.