Roberto De Zerbi has offered the latest on James Maddison ahead of a crucial weekend for Tottenham Hotspur, with fitness concerns once again casting doubt over a key figure as the run-in intensifies.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to return to Premier League action this weekend as they prepare to take on relegated Wolves.
The last time the two sides met, Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, needing to come from behind to earn a point thanks to a late Joao Palhinha strike.
This time, though, a draw will do little for Tottenham’s chances as they sit in the bottom three of the Premier League table with just five games to go.
A victory, however, will see Spurs leave the drop zone and leapfrog West Ham United into 17th place if the Hammers fail to secure a win against Everton.
Tottenham James Maddison injury update from Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi has now provided an update on his injured Tottenham Hotspur man, James Maddison.
Spurs Web reported before De Zerbi’s press conference that five Spurs players are expected to miss out on this weekend’s game.
James Maddison was among those flagged, despite returning to the matchday squad against Brighton, where he was an unused substitute.
Speaking about the midfielder’s fitness and availability, De Zerbi explained that Maddison is still not ready to return fully, telling football.london: “No he is not available [to play] yet. Especially in this week, he felt pain but not so important pain.
“Tomorrow he will come on the bench because he is important whether he plays or not. Better he plays but as a leader and a guy, I want to see in my dressing room nice people, positive people.”
| Injured player | Injury | Potential Return |
| Wilson Odobert | Knee | November 2026 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | Knee | May 2026 |
| Mohammed Kudus | Quad | Unknown |
| Ben Davies | Ankle | Mid April 2026 |
| Guglielmo Vicario | Hernia | April 2026 |
| Cristian Romero | Knee | June 2026 |
| Destiny Udogie | Muscular | Doubt |
Spurs need leadership as James Maddison absence continues
Spurs could do with more leaders in the coming weeks as they battle to stay in the Premier League for the rest of the season
James Maddison is one such voice who can spur the side on, even when he is not on the pitch for Tottenham.
The Englishman will, however, have to bide his time on the sidelines as he continues to recover from his ACL injury, which will likely keep him out until next season.
Xavi Simons looked sharp in the number ten role against Brighton, and De Zerbi will hope the Dutchman can continue to impress in the absence of Maddison.
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