Our number 10 returned to full training last month and has been included in the last three matchday squads as an unused substitute due to his experience and importance within the group.
Madders hasn't featured competitively in a Spurs shirt since our Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt on 1 May 2025 before sadly rupturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during pre-season tour ahead of this campaign.
After a long spell on the sidelines and given the intensity and rhythm of the Premier League, our Head Coach was still unsure whether the creative talent was physically ready for match action ahead of Leeds United on Monday (kick-off 8pm UK) but has been impressed by his qualities in training.
“I'm thinking about James Maddison because I'm watching a top, top player," admitted Roberto, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon.
"Maybe he's not ready yet to play, but as a physical condition, for the rhythm, for the intensity of the game. We are playing in the Premier League, the most difficult league in terms of intensity and rhythm but, as a player, he's great. As a coach watching one player like this, especially for me because I was a number 10 and I'm sensitive in number 10 players like Xavi Simons, Maddison, (Dejan) Kulusevski and (Mohammed) Kudus we have a lot of number 10, but I want to see."
Elsewhere, our Head Coach revealed when he expects Dominic Solanke to return as well as an update on Guglielmo Vicario.