Jamie Carragher believes that James Maddison may become a crucial factor in Tottenham Hotspur's fight to remain in the Premier League. The north London side secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, marking their first win of the 2026 calendar year, but the triumph was shadowed by a spate of injuries that have left the attacking line severely depleted. In the Wolves match, Tottenham suffered another blow when Xavi Simons was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The 22-year-old, who arrived from PSV for a reported £52 million, now joins a growing list of key players sidelined, a situation that has intensified concerns about the club's chances of avoiding the drop. With only four games left in the campaign, Spurs sit two points adrift of safety, and the injury crisis has already claimed summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero, both of whom were forced to miss the rest of the season early in Ange de Zerbi’s tenure. Adding to the misery, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have also been absent for an extended period.
Maddison, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in August, has been included in the matchday squads for the past two weeks but has not been deemed fit enough to make a full‑time return. Despite this, Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, argued that Maddison possesses the "magic" needed to help Spurs stave off relegation. "Tottenham have been unbelievably unlucky with injuries," Carragher told the broadcaster. "If they hadn't suffered this level of attrition, they wouldn't be in the position they're in now.
The club has lost three ACL sufferers in the same position – Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons – which is almost unheard of." He continued, "Now I feel Maddison, as he returns from his long‑term lay‑off, could have a pivotal role in keeping Tottenham up. He's the only player I can think of who might produce that special spark. He shares a similar quality to Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs‑White in terms of creativity and impact." Carragher speculated that Maddison might only be given a brief cameo – perhaps 15 to 20 minutes off the bench – but that even a short spell could be decisive, especially in the upcoming away fixtures at Aston Villa and Chelsea.
"When I picture the Spurs squad and the fear of relegation, I see Maddison still wanting the ball, still taking on defenders, regardless of the circumstances. For Spurs to survive, I think he has a role to play," he said. Everton forward Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall echoed this sentiment on the same programme, describing Maddison as "probably the most creative player in the Spurs lineup." He added, "He wouldn't have wanted to be in a situation where the team relies on him, but he could come on in the final 15‑20 minutes and either create a chance or score a goal.
Tottenham currently lack a clear attacking threat." The relegation battle remains tight. After the weekend, Tottenham, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest all matched each other's results, each desperate to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the Championship next season. Spurs have four matches remaining: home games against Leeds United and Everton, and away trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea. Carragher warned that, despite the recent win, Spurs could struggle to find goals, especially when compared with Forest and West Ham, who boast players of the calibre of Bowen and Gibbs‑White.
"It's going to be a real test for Tottenham," he said. "The fans might think a single win has turned the tide, but they haven't won a league game all year. Meanwhile, their rivals West Ham and Forest also secured victories, so Tottenham's position hasn't improved much.
In fact, because they faced the easiest opponent on paper and still only scraped a win, they're arguably in a worse spot than last week." Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood also weighed in on Sky Sports FC, lamenting the persistent injury woes. "Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it goes beyond bad luck.
The club needs to examine why so many of their players are suffering non‑contact soft‑tissue problems. If this continues, the ultimate price could be relegation," he warned. Sherwood highlighted the lack of a genuine attacking outlet, noting that while West Ham and Forest have multiple front‑four options, Tottenham's forward line lacks a player who can match the threat posed by Bowen or Gibbs‑White.
"After watching the Wolves game and seeing the injuries in attack, I wonder who will actually score for Spurs. If they manage to find the net, it will likely be a solitary goal, meaning they must keep a clean sheet to win. That puts enormous pressure on the remaining home fixtures against Leeds and Everton," he added.
The consensus among pundits is clear: Tottenham's survival hinges on a combination of tactical adjustments, defensive solidity, and perhaps a flash of brilliance from a returning James Maddison. Whether he can deliver that magic in a limited cameo remains to be seen, but his potential impact has become a focal point for a club desperate to avoid the drop. As the final stretch of the season approaches, every minute on the pitch will be scrutinised, and the hope is that Maddison’s creativity and experience can provide the decisive edge Spurs need to stay in the top flight.