Tottenham legend sends Roberto De Zerbi clear message over huge James Maddison decision | OneFootball

Selection risk could be worth the reward with time quickly running out for Spurs in desperate relegation fight

Former Tottenham winger Chris Waddle is adamant that James Maddison must start if he is fit enough to play a role in Spurs’ Premier League run-in.

The Dutch midfielder has been ruled out for the remainder of the season as well as this summer’s World Cup.

Maddison is the obvious replacement for Simons, but despite being named on the bench for Tottenham’s last two games, he has not played a competitive fixture now in nearly a year.

The 29-year-old has been working his way back to fitness after suffering his own ACL injury last August, and head coach Roberto De Zerbi is hesitant to rush the midfielder‘s rehabilitation.

With time running out for Spurs to avoid relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1977, Waddle is insistent that his former club must risk Maddison if he is in any way fit enough to play.

Long absence: James Maddison has not played a competitive game for Tottenham since May 2025

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“I just wonder if he [De Zerbi] can get Maddison in the team. I think he’s a good player. We know the lad can create,” Waddle told Standard Sport, speaking on behalf of Prime Casino, which has a wide variety of online slots, including Football Cash Collect.

Spurs have looked toothless in attack all season, completing the joint-fewest through balls of any Premier League team.

But they appeared to have found a solution to their creative issues with Simons starting on the left of De Zerbi’s 4-2-3-1 formation before drifting centrally as he did to great effect against Brighton.

Simons’ absence, the third season-ending injury De Zerbi has suffered since taking charge a month ago, means the Spurs boss has had to go back to the drawing board.

Waddle believes that Mathys Tel, who has struggled to earn consistent minutes this season, could also be the answer for Tottenham.

The French winger has impressed off the bench, forcing the corner from which Joao Palhinha struck the winning goal against Wolves, and could be in line for a rare start when Spurs travel to Aston Villa on Sunday.

“I thought Tel, who came on against Wolves, if he could hold that form, maybe this manager suits him. He does like to play on the front foot,” Waddle continued.

“He does like attacking players. He likes players who can do things on the ball. So Tel could be a bright spark in the last four games. But really, I just wonder if he can get Maddison in the team.”