Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi faces huge James Maddison decision to solve latest crisis | OneFootball

James Maddison has not kicked a ball in anger in almost a year - is rushing him back a risk worth taking?

No sooner had the Tottenham manager declared his belief that Spurs would stay in the Premier League than news of Xavi Simons’ anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury was confirmed.

In a season in which optimism has been in such short supply, there was a crushing inevitability to the news that the “heartbroken” Simons would miss the rest of the season, as well as this summer’s World Cup, and many months thereafter.

The Dutch midfielder had just started to position himself as a central figure in De Zerbi’s blueprint for survival.

Not even a first league win in 118 days gave Spurs some respite, with West Ham’s stoppage-time winner ensuring they remain two points from safety with just four games to go.

Xavi Simons suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Wolves

PA

De Zerbi, like Igor Tudor, Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou before him, is finding out the hard way that keeping Spurs’ brittle squad fit is nine-tenths of the job.

Simons is the third player, after Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus, to suffer a season-ending injury since De Zerbi took charge a month ago. While there are fears that Dominic Solanke could miss the remaining four games with a hamstring injury. Rumours surrounding an injury to Randal Kolo Muani have been denied.

There is a wider conversation to be had about the decision-making processes at a club that has overhauled its medical department for the last two summers running, yet has seen more ACL injuries (3) than home wins (2) in the Premier League this season.

However, time is of the essence for De Zerbi and Spurs, so the Italian is not willing to reflect on the existential issues facing the club just yet and will instead look for solutions to the loss of Simons as he tries to build on the momentum of last weekend’s win over Wolves.

Simons, who has started just 19 of Spurs’ 34 league games this season, has struggled to get going since his £52million move from Red Bull Leipzig last summer. Yet his absence will be felt - no Spurs player has provided more assists in all competitions than the 23-year-old.

Spurs have been desperately short of creative inspiration this season, ranking joint 20th for through balls completed and 17th for expected goals for among Premier League teams.

The failed recruitment strategy of technical director Johan Lange, which has prioritised young players with impressive physical output data over more technically proficient players, has left Spurs with a squad devoid of creativity.

The sight of Maddison on the bench in Spurs’ last two games has raised the possibility of him playing this season

The failures of the club, both from a recruitment and a medical standpoint, have now put De Zerbi in an uncompromising position as he weighs up whether to rush James Maddison back to fitness to try to save Spurs’ season.

Maddison has been out since August with an ACL injury and has not played a single minute of competitive football in nearly a year.

However, the sight of the English midfielder on the bench in Spurs’ last two games has raised the possibility of him playing again before the end of the season.

De Zerbi is apprehensive. He says he does not want to push Maddison in the same way the club did with Kudus before the Ghanaian suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious quad injury.

Push, though, may very well come to shove, now De Zerbi knows he cannot rely on Simons to provide the creative spark Spurs need heading into the four biggest games in the club’s history.

Maddison was included on the bench against Wolves last weekend, but definitively unavailable. De Zerbi’s restraint will now be put to the test ahead of Sunday’s trip to Champions League-chasing Aston Villa.

Spurs are in a perilous position. So, in mulling over whether to throw Maddison headfirst into a relegation battle, De Zerbi is trying to strike the right balance between risk and responsibility.

He has options outside of Maddison. Lucas Bergvall, one of the players signed by Lange for his physical rather than technical capabilities, could come in as the No10, or Mathys Tel could be handed a rare starting berth on the left wing.

James Maddison applauds Spurs fans ahead of kick-off at Wolves

PA

Neither option, though, is particularly compelling compared to the promise of what Maddison could deliver. Dangerous from free-kicks, corner kicks and in open-play, his quick feet help him carve out shooting positions, while he has the timing and awareness to create chances for himself and others.

In any other season, De Zerbi would not think twice about letting Maddison ease his way back to fitness.

But these are troubling times for Spurs, and there is no doubt that the former Leicester man would relish the chance to be a hero for the club he has endeared himself to with his generous personality and talismanic performances.

In his first address to supporters, De Zerbi said he wanted the club to remember who they were again. A gentle nod to the daring spirit of players like Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne.

Now, there is no denying that Maddison would enjoy the responsibility of trying to emulate such players in a bid to keep Spurs in the Premier League.

But De Zerbi, himself a No10 in his playing days, will know that careers are short and he is ultimately responsible for his players’ welfare.

To dare is to do, but at what cost for De Zerbi, Spurs and Maddison?