Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi could soon be boosted by the return of James Maddison, as well as the emergence of three rising stars.
Maddison backed to star in relegation run-in
Maddison was surprisingly named on the bench by new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi for Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Brighton and even though he was not used, it provided a boost to a disgruntled fanbase.
The England playmaker has not played for Tottenham this campaign after he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage last summer, but his presence in the dugout has raised the possibility of a key role in the club’s final five fixtures.
Ben Dinnery, an injury expert and founder of the widely-renowned Premier Injuries website, has admitted expectations should be low given his eight-and-a-half-month absence, but Maddison should be able to show flashes of his best even ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
“As far as the medical department, the sports science department and everyone involved in his recovery and rehab, James Maddison is in the best possible physical place to be able to contribute to the team.
“The next question is does Roberto De Zerbi believe that James Maddison can start a game and contribute to the success of Tottenham from the first minute or is James Maddison in a place where realistically we’re looking at him being an impact player from the bench?
“Ideal scenario you’re doing that careful reintegration, you’re maybe doing some bounce (warm-up) games, some under-21 games, you’ll maybe be doing 10, 15 or 20 minutes coming off the bench for the first team and then you’re gradually building it up.
“However, given the demands and the pressure and limited amount of time Tottenham have to try and maintain their Premier League hopes, then nothing would surprise me! It is whether or not they feel Maddison can contribute from kick-off for 45 minutes or for 60 minutes.
“James Maddison is a leader, players will be looking up to the likes of Maddison for that moment of brilliance and is he capable of doing it in a one-off moment in games? Absolutely. It is just those levels of consistency optimally over long periods.”
If Maddison can help keep Spurs up, De Zerbi is expected to overhaul his squad in the summer, and the manager will have three rising stars to choose from, according to a report from The Standard.
Mikey Moore
Moore has played just 21 times for Tottenham's first team and not since May 2025 having joined Rangers on loan for the season.
The winger has been a huge hit at Ibrox and the Gers are keen to keep him on a permanent basis, but the report claims Spurs want to give him a 'prominent first-team role next season'.
For his part, the youngster has admitted he would be happy to stay put in Glasgow next year, but it seems De Zerbi may have other plans.
Luka Vuskovic
Vuskovic has been sensational on loan at Hamburg this season, scoring five times from centre-back and emerging as one of the top young defenders in Europe despite a recent injury scare.
He is under contract at Spurs until 2030, but will not want to play in the Championship amid interest from Bayern Munich.
With doubts surrounding the futures of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Vuskovic could become a stalwart in De Zerbi's set up despite barely featuring for his parent club so far.
Ashley Phillips
Phillips, like Vuskovic, has had a top season out on loan despite making little impact in Tottenham's senior set-up so far in his career.
The 20 year-old has spent time at Stoke City, Blackburn and Plymouth, and the report claims he could be seen as a depth option next season if van de Ven and Romero leave.