James Maddison is raring to go for Tottenham Hotspur, as they gear up to face Aston Villa.
Sunday’s clash is huge for the Lilywhites, who remain two points behind West Ham in the Premier League, after the Hammers suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford.
A week after picking up their first league win of 2026, the chance is there for Spurs to climb back out of the relegation zone as they travel to the West Midlands for the second successive week.
Taking over after the international break, boss Roberto De Zerbi inherited an incredibly thin squad, with injury problems plaguing Tottenham for the best part of 18 months.
However, he would welcome Maddison back ahead of the recent 2-2 draw with Brighton, and the midfielder is clearly raring to go as De Zerbi’s side take on Villa.
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James Maddison shares Aston Villa memory ahead of Premier League showdown
Suffering a serious injury in pre-season last summer, Maddison has missed the entirety of the campaign for Spurs.
And despite being welcomed back to the matchday squad in recent weeks, his fitness levels overall have remained unclear, with De Zerbi opting against him as an option from the bench.
As a Coventry boy, there aren’t many bigger trips than one to Villa Park – something that Maddison has embraced throughout his career.
Taking a trip down memory lane, the 29-year-old took the chance to repost his goal in Tottenham’s 4-0 rout against the Villans back in 2022, after he finished off a stunning move in elegant fashion.
That year, the midfielder would rack up four goals and 10 assists in the league, following this up with nine and seven last term, before disaster struck over the summer.
Now, with the final rounds approaching, De Zerbi could well be set to unleash one of his star men.
James Maddison could help Tottenham out of Aston Villa rut
Heading into the clash at Villa Park, Tottenham carry a woeful record, having lost six of their last 10 against the Villans.
However, Maddison could well be the man to inflict damage on Unai Emery’s side, who have proven vulnerable in 1-0 losses against Fulham and Nottingham Forest as of late.
With his Coventry allegiances mentioned, a trip to the Second City is always one that he will relish, and this is proven with his record – having scored five times against the B6 club throughout his career.
With two assists to go with, Brentford are the only side out of the current Premier League crop to have suffered more as a result of Maddison, with five goals and five assists across 11 appearances.
Alongside this, the midfielder has won more against Villa than any other side, winning seven times during spells with Norwich, Leicester and now Spurs.
Potentially making his long-awaited return on Sunday, the occasion could be huge for the Tottenham star, who returns as the Lilywhites scrap for their top-flight security.
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