Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a pivotal figure if Tottenham Hotspur hopes to avoid the drop and remain in the Premier League. The north London side have been plagued by a cascade of injuries, and their recent 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – their first triumph of the 2026 calendar year – was achieved despite a further blow to their attacking options. Young talent Xavi Simons has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, a setback that Carragher describes as a major impediment to Spurs' survival hopes.
Simons' £52 million departure from the pitch is just the latest in a string of misfortunes. Tottenham sit two points shy of safety with four matches left, having already lost summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero for the rest of the season early in De Zerbi's tenure. The club has also been missing Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, the latter sidelined since August with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Although Maddison has been named in the most recent two matchday squads, medical staff have deemed him not yet fit enough to make a full‑scale comeback. Nevertheless, during Monday Night Football Carragher argued that Maddison possesses the "magic" Spurs need as they fight to stay out of the Championship. "Spurs have been extraordinarily unlucky with injuries," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"If they hadn't suffered this injury record they wouldn't be in this predicament." He added that the club has now endured ACL tears to three players occupying similar attacking roles – Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons. "I feel Maddison, who is returning from a long lay‑off, may have to play a role in keeping Tottenham up," Carragher said.
When pressed about who could deliver that special spark, the former Liverpool and Liverpool defender named Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White as comparable talents, but singled out Maddison as the only player capable of producing the decisive moment Spurs require, especially in the upcoming away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea. "He might only get 15 to 20 minutes off the bench, but in that short spell he could create a chance or even score," Carragher continued. "He will still want the ball no matter the situation, and that determination could be crucial for Spurs' survival." Everton forward Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall echoed the sentiment on Monday Night Football, describing Maddison as "probably the most creative player in the Spurs squad" and suggesting that even a brief cameo could change the outcome of a match. "He wouldn't have wanted to be in a position where the team relies on him, but that's the sort of player who can come on late and produce a moment of brilliance," Dewsbury‑Hall said.
The relegation battle remains tight after the weekend, with Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest all desperate to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the second tier. Spurs have four games remaining – two at home against Leeds United and Everton, and two away at Aston Villa and Chelsea. Carragher warned that despite the victory at Wolves, Tottenham could still struggle because of a lack of firepower compared with Forest and West Ham, both of which boast players of the calibre of Bowen and Gibbs‑White.
"It's going to be really tough for Spurs," he remarked. "The fans might think a single win has solved everything, but they haven't won a game all season.
Meanwhile, rivals West Ham and Forest also secured victories, so the gap hasn't really closed." Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood weighed in on Sky Sports FC, blaming the injury crisis for derailing Tottenham's season. "Injuries have plagued Tottenham all year, and it's not just bad luck," he said. "Many of these are non‑contact soft‑tissue problems.
If your best players keep going down and you can't get them back, you risk paying the ultimate price – relegation." Sherwood highlighted the long‑term absences of Kulusevski and Maddison, noting that both have been out for an extended period and will need careful assessment over the summer. He also compared Spurs' attacking options unfavourably with those of West Ham and Forest, who operate with a front four and have forwards capable of consistently threatening the opposition defence. Looking ahead to the crucial 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 no matter what. I can only see them scoring once, if at all, which would force them to rely on a clean sheet to win.
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 and a spark of individual brilliance. While the club's injury list appears daunting, the potential return of James Maddison offers a glimmer of hope. If he can provide even a brief spell of creativity or a decisive goal, it may be enough to tip the balance in Spurs' favour and keep them in the Premier League.