Can James Maddison (30) directly help Tottenham Hotspur's survival fight? There is welcome news that he, who has been away from the Premier League stage for more than a year, is preparing to return.
Tottenham will face Leeds United at home in the 36th round of the 2025-2026 Premier League season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, at 4 a.m. on the 12th (Korean time).
This is a match that could decide Tottenham's fate. Currently Tottenham sit 17th with 9 wins, 10 draws and 16 losses, with 37 points. After beating Wolverhampton in the 34th round to claim their first win of 2026 and then winning against Aston Villa in the 35th round to record back-to-back wins, they escaped the relegation zone. According to football statistics outlet Opta, Tottenham's relegation probability also dropped sharply to 19.30%.
If they beat Leeds and run three straight wins, Tottenham would clear the crucial line for survival. The remaining away match at Chelsea and the home match against Everton may be harder than the Leeds game. Leeds sit 14th with 10 wins, 13 draws and 12 losses, with 43 points.
Expectations that Maddison could finally return are growing ahead of the match. He made a comeback appearance as a substitute in the 30th minute of the second half in a friendly against Newcastle at Seoul World Cup Stadium last August. However, 10 minutes later he suddenly complained of pain and collapsed, and was substituted again. In the end Maddison was unable to properly say goodbye to Son Heung-min on the pitch, and was seen moving on crutches.
The diagnosis was an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Maddison had to undergo surgery immediately, and it was projected that nearly a year of rehabilitation would be required. It was effectively a season-ending verdict. Fortunately, he has been taking part in team training preparing for his return, and under coach De Zerbi he has recently been on the bench for three consecutive matches.
However, because his physical condition is still not normal, there were no actual plans for him to play. With Tottenham so riddled with injuries, they chose to have Maddison, who could serve as a mental pillar, sit on the bench. In practice he has been gradually increasing the intensity of his warmups during matches, but he has always warmed up wearing white sports socks rather than match socks.
But ahead of the Leeds match questions were raised about Maddison's possible return. Local journalists well versed in Tottenham news predicted he might play for a short time. Football London also predicted, "Maddison could play the last few minutes of the Leeds match on Monday night."
Maddison is a player who can inject the creativity Tottenham's attack lacks. Last summer Son Heung-min left for the United States, and after Dejan Kulusevski and then Savi Simons suffered injuries, there has been a shortage of players to lead attacking build-up with incisive passes. Even without full match sharpness, Maddison's return could be a big boost.
But coach De Zerbi was reserved. He said, "I keep thinking about Maddison because I am seeing a truly top-level player," and added, "Maybe he is not yet ready to play. But that is not because of his physical condition; it's a matter of match rhythm and match intensity. We play in the Premier League, and this league is the toughest in terms of intensity and tempo."
De Zerbi also said, "But Maddison is a fantastic player as a player. As a coach it's really enjoyable to watch a player like this. Especially since I used to play the No. 10 role myself, I understand No. 10-type players like Savi Simons, Maddison, Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus particularly well. We have many No. 10-type players, but I want to watch a bit more."
Because his condition has recovered a lot, it seems quite possible that Maddison could be brought on as a substitute depending on the situation. If he really steps onto the pitch it would be his first competitive return in a year since the Europa League semifinal first leg against Bodo/Glimt in May last year.
[photo] ⓒGettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Alasdair Gold, Tottenham social media.
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