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 club recently celebrated a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers – 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' absence adds to a growing injury list that already includes summer acquisition Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero, both declared out for the rest of the campaign early in Ange Postecoglou’s tenure.
Dejan Kulusevski has also been sidelined, and James Maddison has not featured since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in August. Although Maddison has been named in the last two matchday squads, the former England midfielder has not been deemed fit enough to make a full‑time comeback. Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, argued that Maddison possesses the kind of "magic" Spurs need to steer clear of the Championship.
"Spurs have been incredibly unlucky with injuries," Carragher told the broadcaster. "If they didn’t have this injury record, they wouldn’t be in this position." He highlighted the uncanny pattern of ACL injuries that have struck three players occupying similar creative roles: Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons. "Now I feel Maddison, who is returning from injury, may have to play a role in terms of keeping Tottenham up," Carragher added. The former Liverpool and England defender went on to single out Maddison as the only player in the squad capable of delivering something special.
He compared the midfielder’s qualities to those of Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White, noting that even a brief cameo of 15‑20 minutes off the bench could provide the spark Spurs desperately need, especially in the upcoming away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea. "When I think of the Spurs players and that little bit of fear of going down, it may have eased a little after the win at Wolves, but Maddison would still take the ball forward regardless of the situation," Carragher said. "For Spurs to stay up, I feel 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 squad".
He admitted that Maddison would not have wished to be thrust into a relegation battle, yet his ability to influence a game in the final 15‑20 minutes – whether by creating a chance or scoring – could prove vital. "Spurs haven’t really got a hat at the moment," Dewsbury‑Hall added, referring to the lack of a reliable goal‑scoring outlet.
Tottenham’s situation is mirrored by fellow relegation‑threatened clubs West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, both of which secured victories the previous weekend. With only four matches remaining – two at home against Leeds United and Everton, and two away at Aston Villa and Chelsea – Spurs face a daunting run-in. Carragher warned that despite the Wolves win, the lack of firepower compared with Forest and West Ham could leave Tottenham struggling to find the net. "It’s going to be really tough for Spurs," he said.
"The fans will now be thinking they have won a game of football – they haven’t won a game of football all year and it’s hard to comprehend that. However, their rivals West Ham and Nottingham Forest also won." He emphasized that the recent injuries have actually put Tottenham in a worse position than the week before, even though they have cleared what appeared on paper to be the easiest fixture. Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood echoed the injury concerns, stating that the club’s season has been derailed by a series of non‑contact soft‑tissue problems.
"They need to review and have a good look at what’s happening to their players because we can all get injured from contact, but a lot of these injuries are not contact," Sherwood explained. "Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have been out for a hell of a long time.
They’ll need a proper assessment over the summer." Sherwood also compared Tottenham’s attacking options with those of West Ham and Forest, noting that both opponents feature a front four with players like Gibbs‑White or Bowen who can consistently threaten defenses. "Spurs don’t have a player in the attack that can even come close to either of those players. That is what worries me for Spurs," he said.
Looking ahead to the crucial fixtures at Villa Park and Stamford Bridge, Sherwood expressed doubt about Spurs’ ability to score. "After watching the Wolves game and also the injuries in attack, who is going to score a goal for Spurs? Who is going to create something? I can’t see them scoring a goal.
If they do score I can only see it being one, so they have to keep a clean sheet to win the game. That puts huge pressure on the home games against Leeds and Everton." In summary, the consensus among pundits is clear: Tottenham’s survival hinges on the return of creative spark from players like James Maddison.
Whether he can deliver a decisive pass, a set‑piece wonder, or a late‑game goal remains to be seen, but his presence alone may lift the morale of a squad battered by injuries and low confidence. As the final four games approach, every minute on the pitch could become a make‑or‑break moment for the club, and Maddison’s potential cameo could be the magic ingredient that keeps Tottenham in the top flight.