The star was introduced from the bench in Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Stamford Bridge earlier this week knowing that a point would all but confirm their Premier League status for the 2026/27 season. However, Spurs fell to a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, taking the relegation battle with West Ham to the final day of the season.
Spurs weren’t going anywhere in the game until James Maddison entered the fray in the 68th minute. The creative midfielder’s absence as a result of a cruel ACL injury sustained last August has been keenly felt, and after spending weeks in the matchday squad, acting as a cheerleader and motivator on the touchline, he only made his second appearance of the season against Chelsea.
The 29-year-old was restricted to just half an hour of action as he continues to build up his fitness, and it remains to be seen how many minutes James Maddison can play on the judgement day against Everton at home.
Danny Murphy makes James Maddison admission ahead of Tottenham vs. Everton
Maddison has once again demonstrated in the last two cameo appearances how badly Tottenham missed his services throughout the campaign. The England international’s incisive passing and vision can be matched only by a few players across the Premier League. Within minutes his introduction against Chelsea, he started controlling the pace of the game and making Spurs tick with his passing, reading of the game and movement.
Heading into a ‘do or die’ game against Everton on Sunday, BBC Sports pundit Danny Murphy has hailed Maddison as a “game-changer.” The former Tottenham midfielder wants the England international to start and play for 60 minutes against the Toffees, depending on his fitness.
“The big dilemma he’s got at the minute, and I don’t know how fit he is, but Maddison is the game-changer,” Danny Murphy said on the BBC’s Match of the Day (h/t BBC Sport).
“If he can start, even for 60 minutes, because that first goal in that stadium at the weekend is going to be massive.”
Starting Maddison vs. Everton would be risky
Maddison admitted after the Chelsea game that he is working with an injury specialist, and there are obvious reasons behind him not being at his fluid best thus far. The playmaker hinted that he’s not yet ready to start games for Tottenham due to the torn ligament he endured 10 months ago.
Spurs supporters will be desperately hoping to see Maddison in the first XI on Sunday, given that the current seem desperately short of quality in attack. However, Roberto De Zerbi is unlikely to do that after confessing that the decision is out of his hands and that his medical department has made it clear that Maddison cannot play more than 20 or 25 minutes.
Truly, in a game expected to be of such high voltage, Maddison, a player still not fully fit from the ACL rupture, cannot simply be risked to start. Fans’ emotions are very much fathomable, but taking such a step would endanger a player’s career. De Zerbi must go with the strongest XI he thinks can win him the game and bring on Maddison off the bench when required.