Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a crucial piece of the puzzle if Tottenham Hotspur hopes to avoid the drop and remain in the Premier League. The North London side have been hit by a fresh wave of injuries, most notably the loss of Xavi Simons for the remainder of the season during their 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers – their first win of the 2026 calendar year. Simons' departure is a severe blow to a club already battling to stay up. The £52 million midfielder joins a growing list of casualties that have left Spurs perched just two points below the safety zone with four fixtures remaining.
Early in Antonio Conte’s tenure, the team already lost summer acquisition Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero for the rest of the campaign. Since then, Dejan Kulusevski has also been sidelined, and James Maddison has been on the treatment table since a torn ACL ended his season in August. Although Maddison has been named in the last two match‑day squads, the medical staff have not cleared him for a full‑time comeback. Yet, on Monday Night Football, Carragher argued that Maddison possesses the kind of creativity that could provide the "magic" Tottenham need as they fight to stay clear of the Championship.
"Tottenham have suffered an extraordinary run of injuries," Carragher told Sky Sports. "If they hadn’t been hit so hard, they wouldn’t be in the precarious position they find themselves in now." He went on to highlight the uncanny pattern of ACL problems that have plagued the club’s attacking options: Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons have all suffered serious ligament damage. "Now I feel Maddison, returning from a long injury lay‑off, may have to step up and help keep Spurs up," Carragher said. When asked which player could deliver something special, Carragher named Maddison alongside the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White, noting that the former’s quality is comparable.
"He’s coming back from a major injury and we might only be talking about 15‑20 minutes off the bench, but he is the only one in that squad who could produce that spark, especially in the away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea," Carragher added. He described Maddison’s mindset as one of determination: "Even after the win at Wolves, there is still a fear of relegation, but Maddison will keep taking the ball, no matter the circumstances. For Spurs to stay up, I think he has a role to play." Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall, also appearing on the show, echoed the sentiment: "Maddison is probably the most creative player in the Spurs lineup. He wouldn’t have wanted to be in a situation where he’s expected to rescue the team, but he could come on in the final 15‑20 minutes and either create a chance or score a goal.
Tottenham have been lacking a cutting edge at the moment." The relegation battle remains intense after the weekend’s fixtures, with Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest all desperate to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the second tier. Spurs have four matches left – home games against Leeds United and Everton, and away trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea. Carragher warned that despite the win at Wolves, the shortage of goals could leave them vulnerable against teams like Forest and West Ham, who possess attacking talents such as Gibbs‑White and Bowen.
"It’s going to be a real test for Spurs," he said. "The fans might think a single win has salvaged the season, but they haven’t won a league game all year. Meanwhile, their rivals West Ham and Nottingham Forest also secured victories." He added that the injuries sustained over the weekend have actually placed Tottenham in a worse position than the previous week, as they have already cleared what was, on paper, their easiest match. Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood also weighed in on Sky Sports FC, blaming the injury crisis for derailing the club’s season.
"It can’t just be bad luck – they need to look closely at why so many players are picking up non‑contact injuries. Soft‑tissue and muscle issues are piling up, and if this continues, the price could be relegation," he warned.
Sherwood singled out the lengthy absences of Kulusevski and Maddison, suggesting that a thorough review over the summer will be essential. He also compared Tottenham’s attacking options unfavourably to those of West Ham and Forest, noting that both rivals have a front four that includes dynamic players like Gibbs‑White or Bowen, whereas Spurs lack a comparable striker. "After watching the Wolves game and seeing the injury list, who’s going to find the back of the net for Spurs? Who will create the chances?
The fixtures at Villa and Chelsea are difficult regardless of form, and I struggle to see them scoring more than a single goal in those matches. If they do score, it will have to be a one‑goal win, meaning they must also keep a clean sheet – a tall order," Sherwood said.
He concluded that the pressure will shift to the final two home games against Leeds and Everton, where Tottenham must capitalize on any advantage. In summary, both Carragher and former boss Sherwood agree that the injury‑ridden Spurs need a spark to survive, and James Maddison, if fit enough to feature even briefly, could provide the decisive creative spark that the team desperately needs as the season draws to a close.