Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a decisive factor if Tottenham Hotspur hopes to avoid the drop and retain their Premier League status. The north London side have been plagued by a cascade of injuries, and the recent 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers – their first win of the 2026 calendar year – was achieved despite the loss of several attacking options.
Among the most significant setbacks is the season‑ending injury to Xavi Simons, a £52 million acquisition whose absence further dims Spurs' chances of staying up. Spurs currently sit two points shy of safety with four matches remaining.
Their injury list has swelled dramatically since the start of Ange de Zerbi’s tenure, with summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero both ruled out for the rest of the campaign early on. The club has also been without Dejan Kulusevski for an extended period, and James Maddison has not featured since tearing his ACL in August of the previous season. Although Maddison was named in the squad for the last two matchdays, the medical team has not cleared him for a full‑time return.
During Monday Night Football, Carragher argued that Maddison possesses the "magic" Tottenham need to stave off relegation. "Spurs have been unbelievably unlucky with injuries," he told Sky Sports.
"If they hadn't suffered this injury crisis, they wouldn't be in the predicament they find themselves in now." He highlighted the uncanny pattern of ACL tears affecting three players who occupy similar attacking roles: Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons. "Now, with Maddison on the brink of returning, I think he could play a pivotal role in keeping Tottenham in the top flight," Carragher said. The former Liverpool and England defender went on to compare Maddison's potential impact to that of Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White, noting that the midfielder shares their ability to produce moments of brilliance.
"He might only get 15 to 20 minutes off the bench, but he's the only player in that squad I can see delivering the kind of spark Spurs desperately need, especially in the away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea," Carragher explained. He added that Maddison's mentality would be crucial: "Even after a win, there’s still a lingering fear of relegation.
Maddinson would still want the ball, regardless of the situation. For Spurs to stay up, I feel he has a role to play." 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 the sort of impact sub who, in the final 15‑20 minutes, creates a chance or even scores. "Spurs haven't really got a hat‑trick of quality up front at the moment," he said.
The relegation battle remains tight after the weekend, with Tottenham, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest all chasing points to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the Championship. Spurs have four games left: home fixtures against Leeds United and Everton, and away trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea. Carragher warned that, despite the recent win, Tottenham could still struggle due to a lack of firepower compared with their rivals, who boast players like Bowen and Gibbs‑White.
"It's going to be really tough for Spurs," he asserted. "The fans might think they've finally won a game this season, but West Ham and Forest have also secured victories. Adding the fresh injuries from the weekend, Tottenham are actually in a worse position than last week, even though they've cleared the easiest game on paper." Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood weighed in on Sky Sports FC, blaming a spate of non‑contact injuries for derailing Tottenham's campaign. "Injuries have ruined Tottenham all season, and it can't just be bad luck.
They need to review what's happening to their players because many of these injuries are soft‑tissue or twist injuries, not the result of heavy contact," he said. Sherwood warned that the club could ultimately pay the price with relegation if key figures such as Kulusevski and Maddison cannot regain fitness before the summer.
Sherwood also compared Tottenham's attacking options with those of West Ham and Nottingham Forest, noting that both rivals operate with a front four featuring players like Bowen and Gibbs‑White. "Spurs don't have an attacker who can even come close to those players," he remarked, expressing concern over the team's ability to find goals in the remaining fixtures. He questioned who would step up after the Wolves game: "Who is going to score for Spurs?
Who will create? Looking at the upcoming matches at Aston Villa and Chelsea, those are tough games regardless of the quality you have.
I can't see them scoring more than one goal, and if they do, they'll need a clean sheet to win. That puts massive pressure on the home games against Leeds and Everton." In summary, both Carragher and Sherwood agree that Tottenham's survival hinges on a combination of luck, injury management, and perhaps a dash of Maddison's creativity. If the midfielder can return, even for a brief cameo, his vision and technical skill could provide the decisive moment Spurs need to clinch vital points and escape the relegation zone. The next few weeks will be a test of depth, resilience, and whether the club can overcome the misfortune that has haunted them throughout the season.