Jamie Carragher believes James Maddison's return could be crucial for Tottenham's survival in the Premier League. Spurs are currently two points from safety with four games remaining, following significant injuries to key players, including Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero.
Key points
Jamie Carragher suggests Maddison's return is vital for Spurs.
Tottenham is two points from safety in the Premier League.
Xavi Simons is ruled out for the rest of the season.
Spurs have multiple key injuries impacting their survival chances.
Jamie Carragher has a feeling James Maddison may have a role to play if Tottenham are going to avoid relegation and stay in the Premier League.
Spurs were hit with yet more injuries to attacking players in their 1-0 win at Wolves - their first victory of 2026 - with Xavi Simons ruled out for the rest of the season and the World Cup in a major blow to the north London club's survival hopes.
The absence of £52m Simons is just the latest injury blow for Spurs, who sit two points adrift of safety with four games to go, after seeing summer signing Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero ruled out for the rest of the season in the first month of De Zerbi's time in charge. They have also been without Dejan Kulusevski and Maddison, who has been sidelined since last August due to a torn ACL.
Xavi Simons receives medical treatment before being stretchered off
Image:
Xavi Simons receives medical treatment before being stretchered off
Injuries
He has been included in the previous two matchday squads, but hasn't been deemed fit enough to make a long-awaited return to action, but Carragher, speaking on Monday Night Football, thinks Maddison has the ability to "produce the magic Spurs need as they bid to avoid dropping into the Championship.
How could James Maddison help Tottenham avoid relegation?
James Maddison's return could provide the creative spark needed for Tottenham to secure crucial points in their fight against relegation.
What injuries are affecting Tottenham's squad?
Tottenham is dealing with injuries to key players, including Xavi Simons, Cristian Romero, and Mohammed Kudus, which have severely impacted their performance.
What is Tottenham's current position in the Premier League?
Tottenham is currently two points adrift of safety with only four games left in the season.
What is the significance of Xavi Simons' injury for Spurs?
Xavi Simons' injury is a major blow for Spurs, as he was expected to play a vital role in their efforts to avoid relegation.
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"Spurs have been really unfortunate with injuries," Carragher told Sky Sports. "If they didn't have this injury record they wouldn't be in this position.
"However, they have had ACL injuries to three players in the same position, Kulusevski, Maddison and now Simons.
"But now I feel Maddison, who is returning from injury, may have to play a role in terms of keeping Tottenham up.
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He added: "He is the only one I can think of in terms of doing something special. He's got that quality I mention in terms of Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs-White.
"He is coming back from a big injury and we might only be talking about 15 to 20 minutes off the bench, but he is the only one when I look at that squad and think he could produce that little bit of magic Spurs need, especially in the away games at Aston Villa and Chelsea.
"When I think of the Spurs players and that little bit of fear of going down, and it may have gone a little after the win at Wolves, but Maddison would continue to take the ball. He'd still want to take it no matter what the situation.
"For Spurs to stay up, I feel he has a role to play."
Tottenham injuries
'Maddison the most creeative player in Spurs squad'
Everton forward Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on Monday Night Football:
"Maddison is probably the most creative player in the Spurs squad.
"He wouldn't have wanted to be in this position where he might needed to be counted on to help them, but he is the sort of player that could come on in the last 15 to 20 minutes and create a chance or score a goal.
"Spurs haven't really got hat at the moment."
'Who is going to score the goals for Spurs?'
It is as you were in the relegation battle after the weekend as Tottenham and West Ham matched Nottingham Forest's victory last Friday evening with all three relegation-threatened sides desperate to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the Championship next season.
Spurs have four games left, two at home against Leeds and Everton and two away at Aston Villa and Chelsea, and Carragher believes Spurs could struggle, despite their win at Wolves, because of a lack of goals compared to Forest and West Ham, who have players with the quality of Gibbs-White and Bowen.
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Tim Sherwood
Tim Sherwood admits he is 'deflated' despite Spurs' win at Wolves in their fight to avoid relegation
"It's going to be really tough for Spurs," Carragher said.
"The fans will now be thinking they have won a game of football - they haven't won a game of football all year and it's hard to comprehend that. However, their rivals West Ham and Nottingham Forest both won also.
"If you add that to the injuries they got at the weekend, even though they have won a game, they are actually in a worse position than last week because they've got the easiest game on paper out of the way.
Spurs might pay 'ultimate price' for injury problems
Ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood on Sky Sports FC:
"Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it can't be bad luck.
"They need to review and [have] a good look at what's happening to their players because we can all get injured from contact, but a lot of these injuries are not contact.
"They are twists and soft tissue injuries. And ultimately, it looks like they might have to pay the price for it, the ultimate price, which is relegation.
"If you're a manager, you're going in, your players - some of your best players - keep getting injured and you can't get them back to fitness.
"Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, it's been a hell of a long time since they've been injured. So they're going to need a good look at that in the summer."
"West Ham and Nottingham Forest have difficult fixtures on paper, there's no doubt about that, but when you look at the players they both have and with both playing with a front four, Morgan Gibbs-White or Jarrod Bowen, Spurs don't have a player in the attack that can even come close to either of those players.
"That is what worries me for Spurs."
He added: "After watching the Wolves game and also the injuries in attack, who is going to score a goal for Spurs? Who is going to create something?
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur.
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur
"I look at the games they've got at Aston Villa and at Chelsea. They are tough games no matter how you are playing or how good a team you've got.
"But I can't see them scoring a goal. If they do score I can only see it being one so they have to then keep a clean sheet to win the game, so I find it difficult to make a case for them in those two games.
"That then puts huge pressure on the home games against Leeds and Everton."
