Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a crucial factor if Tottenham Hotspur hopes to steer clear of relegation and retain their place in the Premier League. The north London side have been plagued by a cascade of injuries, and their recent 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers – their first win of the 2026 calendar year – was achieved despite a further blow to their attacking options. Xavi Simons, who has been a marquee signing worth £52 million, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, compounding Tottenham's already dire injury list.
The loss of Simons follows a string of setbacks that have left the Spurs hovering two points adrift of safety with only four matches remaining. Early in Ange Postecoglou’s tenure, summer acquisition Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero both suffered season‑ending injuries.
The club has also been without Dejan Kulusevski for an extended period, and James Maddison has not featured since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in August of the previous season. Although Maddison was named in the squad for the last two matchdays, the coaching staff deemed him not yet fit for a full‑time comeback. Nevertheless, Carragher argued on Sky Sports’ "Monday Night Football" that the creative midfielder possesses the quality to deliver the "magic" Tottenham need as they fight to avoid a drop into the Championship.
"Spurs have been extraordinarily unlucky with injuries," Carragher told the programme. "If they hadn't suffered this injury record, they wouldn't find themselves in this predicament." He went on to note that the club has now endured ACL tears to three players occupying similar attacking roles – Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons – a pattern that raises serious concerns about squad depth and medical management. "Now I think Maddison, who is finally returning from a long‑term injury, could be called upon to help keep Tottenham up," Carragher said.
When asked which player could provide a spark, Carragher singled out Maddison, comparing his potential impact to that of Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White. "He's the only one I can think of who could do something special.
He has that quality you see in Bowen and Gibbs‑White. Even if he only gets 15‑20 minutes off the bench, he could provide the little bit of magic Spurs need, especially in the away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea." Carragher emphasized Maddison’s willingness to take the ball in any situation, noting that the midfielder would likely continue to push forward regardless of the scoreline. "For Spurs to stay up, I feel he has a role to play," the former Liverpool defender concluded.
Everton forward Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall echoed the sentiment on the same programme, describing Maddison as "probably the most creative player in the Spurs squad". He added that while Maddison would not have wanted to be in a position where the team relies on him, his ability to influence a game in the final minutes could be decisive.
"Spurs haven't really got a hat trick of options at the moment," Dewsbury‑Hall said. The relegation battle remains intense after the weekend’s fixtures, with Tottenham, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest all desperate to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the second tier. Spurs have four games left: home matches against Leeds United and Everton, and away trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Carragher warned that despite the win at Wolves, Tottenham’s goal‑scoring record lags behind that of Forest and West Ham, who boast forwards of the calibre of Gibbs‑White and Bowen. "It's going to be really tough for Spurs," he remarked. "The fans might think they've finally won a game of football, but they haven't won a game all season. Meanwhile, their rivals West Ham and Nottingham Forest have also secured victories.
Adding the recent injuries to the mix, even with that win, Tottenham are arguably in a worse position than last week because they have already tackled their supposedly easiest fixture on paper." Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood also weighed in on Sky Sports FC, blaming the spate of injuries for derailing Tottenham’s campaign. He suggested that the club needs to conduct a thorough review of its medical protocols, as many of the injuries have been non‑contact soft‑tissue problems rather than the result of tackles.
"If you're a manager and your best players keep getting injured and you can't get them back to fitness, that's a recipe for disaster," Sherwood warned, naming Kulusevski and Maddison as prime examples of long‑term absentees. Sherwood further compared Tottenham’s attacking options with those of West Ham and Forest, noting that both opponents operate with a front four and have players capable of consistently threatening the goal. "Spurs don't have a player in attack who can even come close to those talents," he said, expressing concern over the club’s ability to find the net in upcoming matches. Looking ahead to the critical fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea, Sherwood doubted Tottenham’s capacity to score.
"I can only see them possibly getting a single goal, which would then force them to keep a clean sheet to win. It's a very narrow margin," he explained.
"That puts enormous 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 improved fitness, tactical adjustments, and perhaps a touch of individual brilliance from players like James Maddison. With the season hanging in the balance, the North London club must find a way to convert limited opportunities into decisive results if they are to avoid the drop into the Championship.