Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a pivotal figure if Tottenham Hotspur hopes to steer clear of relegation and secure their Premier League status. The North London side recently celebrated a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, marking their first win of the 2026 calendar year, but the triumph was shadowed by a fresh wave of injuries to key attacking players.
Xavi Simons, who has been a £52 million signing, was ruled out for the remainder of the season, delivering a severe blow to Spurs' chances of survival. Simons' injury is just the latest in a string of setbacks that have left Tottenham precariously perched two points adrift of safety with four matches remaining. Earlier in the campaign, summer recruit Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero both suffered season‑ending injuries during the opening month of Antonio Conte’s successor, De Zerbi, tenure. The club has also been missing Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, the latter having been sidelined since August after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Although Maddison has been named in the squad for the last two matchdays, medical staff have deemed him not yet fit enough to make a full‑time return. Nonetheless, Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, argued that Maddison possesses the creative spark that could provide the "magic" Tottenham need as they battle to avoid a drop into the Championship. "Spurs have been incredibly unlucky with injuries," Carragher told the network.
"If they hadn't been hit so hard, they wouldn't find themselves in this predicament. The club has now suffered ACL tears to three players who occupy the same attacking role – Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons. That level of attrition is unprecedented." He went on to suggest that Maddian, once fully recovered, might be called upon to influence the outcome of the remaining fixtures, especially the crucial away games at Aston Villa and Chelsea.
"He is the only player I can think of who could deliver something special," Carragher said. "He shares a similar quality to Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White in terms of vision and the ability to unlock defenses. Even if he only gets 15‑20 minutes off the bench, his presence could be the catalyst Spurs need." Carragher emphasized Maddison’s willingness to take responsibility regardless of the situation.
"When I picture the Tottenham squad and the looming fear of relegation, I see Maddison still eager to take the ball, to drive forward, and to create chances. For Spurs to stay up, I truly believe he has a role to play." Everton forward Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall echoed the sentiment on the same programme, calling Maddison "probably the most creative player in the Spurs lineup." He added that while Maddison would not have wanted to be in a position where the team relies heavily on him, his skill set makes him capable of influencing a game in the final minutes, either by setting up a goal or scoring one himself. "Tottenham currently lack a clear attacking outlet," Dewsbury‑Hall noted.
The relegation battle remains tight. After the weekend, Tottenham, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest all matched each other's results, each desperate to stay clear of the drop alongside Burnley and Wolves, who are already confirmed for the Championship next season. 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 dearth of goals compared with Forest and West Ham, both of which boast players like Gibbs‑White and Bowen who can produce moments of brilliance.
"It's going to be a very tough run for Spurs," he said. "The fans might feel uplifted after a win, but they haven't experienced a genuine victory all season.
Meanwhile, their rivals West Ham and Forest have also secured points, so Tottenham's position hasn't improved dramatically. In fact, they've just cleared the easiest fixture on paper, leaving them with a tougher schedule ahead." Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood weighed in on Sky Sports FC, attributing the club's struggles largely to the injury crisis. "Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it goes beyond bad luck," he argued.
"The club needs to scrutinise why so many players are sustaining non‑contact injuries – many are soft‑tissue and twist injuries. If this trend continues, the ultimate price could be relegation." Sherwood highlighted the prolonged absences of Kulusevski and Maddison, noting that both have been out for an extended period and will require careful management over the summer. He also compared Tottenham's attacking options to those of their rivals, stating, "West Ham and Nottingham Forest may have difficult fixtures on paper, but they possess front‑four players with the quality of Bowen or Gibbs‑White. Spurs lack an attacker who can even approach that level, which worries me." Looking ahead to the remaining fixtures, Sherwood expressed doubt about Tottenham's ability to find the net.
"After watching the Wolves game and seeing the injuries in attack, I wonder who will score for Spurs. Who will create the chances? The games at Villa and Chelsea are tough regardless of the team's form.
I struggle to see them scoring more than one goal in each, meaning they'd have to rely on clean sheets to win. That puts immense 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 moment of individual brilliance from a player like James Maddison.
If Maddison can return to full fitness and make an impact, even in limited minutes, his creative flair could be the decisive factor that helps Spurs avoid the drop and retain their place among England's elite clubs.