James Maddison’s latest appearance in Tottenham Hotspur training will certainly excite supporters, especially with the midfielder continuing to edge closer towards a long-awaited return from injury.
Many Tottenham Hotspur supporters would surely have been concerned after Spurs lost their last recognised number 10 in Xavi Simons during the 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical tweak against Aston Villa on Sunday, where Spurs adapted to the absence of a natural number 10 and secured a 2-1 victory, will have eased plenty of those worries.
In fact, Spurs Web recently discussed whether Tottenham even need a traditional number 10 right now, particularly with James Maddison continuing to push for a comeback.
The England international has not kicked a ball competitively since suffering an ACL injury in pre-season, although he has made three substitute appearances on the bench without coming on.
Roberto De Zerbi has consistently explained that Maddison’s inclusion in matchday squads has largely been for leadership purposes as he looks to boost morale within the camp.
However, in his latest injury update, De Zerbi hinted that Maddison remains in his thoughts for a return. Speaking about the midfielder, the Tottenham head coach said: “I am thinking about James Maddison because I am watching a top, top player.
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“Maybe he is not ready yet to play, not as a physical condition, but for the rhythm or intensity of the game. You are playing in the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world for rhythm and intensity.”
Nonetheless, recent training ground footage has now shown just how much progress Maddison has made during his rehabilitation.
The midfielder was seen moving freely in training, matching the intensity of his teammates and even scoring a couple of goals, in what looked like a five-a-side game.
There is no denying he looked sharp, although there remains a major difference between training sessions and the demands of a Premier League match.
You can watch Maddison’s training ground performance here:
Spurs do not need to rush James Maddison back
Of course, the big question remains whether Maddison is fit enough to feature in a Premier League game at this stage of his recovery.
That remains unclear, although with the midfielder already featuring on the bench, there is every chance he could make a cameo appearance soon.
At the same time, Tottenham are not currently in a position where they need to rush him back into action. The performance against Aston Villa showed that De Zerbi and his side still have enough quality to cope without a recognised number 10.