Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a crucial factor in Tottenham Hotspur's fight to avoid relegation and retain their Premier League status. The North London side secured 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, suffered a season‑ending injury, dealing a severe blow to Spurs' survival hopes. Simons' absence is just the latest in a string of setbacks that have left Tottenham perched two points below the safety zone with four matches remaining.
Earlier in the season, summer recruit Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero were ruled out for the rest of the campaign during the opening month of Antonio de Zerbi’s tenure. The injury list also includes Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, the latter having missed action since August after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Although Maddison has been named in the squad for the past two matchdays, the medical team has not cleared him for a full‑time return. Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, argued that Maddison possesses the type of "magic" Tottenham need as they strive to stay clear of the Championship.
"Spurs have been incredibly unlucky with injuries," he said. "If they didn't have this injury record, they wouldn't be in this position." He went on to note the unusual concentration of ACL injuries among players who operate in similar roles – Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons. "Now I feel Maddison, who is coming back from a long lay‑off, may have to play a part in keeping Tottenham up," Carragher added. The former defender highlighted Maddison's unique qualities, comparing him to fellow creative talents Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White.
"He's the only player I can think of who could do something special. He has that flair that Bowen and Gibbs‑White show," Carragher explained. "He may only get 15 to 20 minutes off the bench, but in those minutes he could provide the spark Spurs need, especially in the upcoming away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea." Carragher emphasized Maddison's willingness to take responsibility: "Even after the win at Wolves, there is still a fear of relegation. Maddison would still want the ball, no matter the situation.
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 added, "He wouldn't have wanted to be in a position where the team depends on him, but he could come on in the last 15‑20 minutes and either set up a chance or score a goal. Spurs haven't really got a hat‑trick of creativity at the moment." The relegation battle remains tight. After the weekend, Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest all matched each other's results, each desperate to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the second tier 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 the lack of firepower could prove decisive, especially when compared with Forest and West Ham, who boast players like Gibbs‑White and Bowen. "It's going to be really tough for Spurs," he said. "The fans might think they've finally won a game this season, but West Ham and Forest also won theirs. Adding the recent injuries, even with the win, Spurs are in a worse position than last week because they've already dealt with the easiest opponent on paper." Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood weighed in on Sky Sports FC, attributing Tottenham's struggles largely to injuries.
"Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it can't just be bad luck," he asserted. "A lot of these are non‑contact soft‑tissue problems. If your best players keep getting injured and you can't get them back to fitness, the ultimate price could be relegation." Sherwood singled out Kulusevski and Maddison, noting that both have been sidelined for an extended period and will require careful assessment over the summer. He also compared Spurs' attacking options unfavourably with those of West Ham and Forest, which both employ a front four featuring high‑calibre forwards.
"Spurs don't have an attacker who can match the quality of Bowen or Gibbs‑White," he said. "That 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 up front, who is going to score for Spurs? Who will create? The games at Villa and Chelsea are tough regardless of form.
I can't see them scoring more than one goal in each. If they do, they will need a clean sheet to win, which is a huge pressure on the home games against Leeds and Everton." Both pundits agree that the coming weeks will test Tottenham's depth, resilience and tactical flexibility.
If Maddison can return, even for a brief cameo, his vision, passing range and knack for unlocking defences could provide the decisive edge. Whether that "magic" materialises in the final 15 minutes or not, the North London club's fate may well hinge on the creativity and composure of a player finally emerging from a long rehabilitation period.