Jamie Carragher believes Tottenham Hotspur may need to call upon the “magic” of James Maddison if they are to avoid the unthinkable drop to the Championship. Speaking on Monday Night Football, the Liverpool legend argued that the injury-ravaged Spurs side, now just two points above the relegation zone with four games left, lack a genuine match-winner—unless the creative midfielder can produce a miracle from the bench.
Injury Crisis Deepens at Spurs
Tottenham’s 1-0 victory at Wolves on Saturday was their first win of 2026, but it came at a devastating cost. Xavi Simons, the £52m summer signing, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and the World Cup with an ACL injury. He joins a growing list of attack-minded absentees that already includes Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, and—until now—James Maddison, who has been sidelined since last August with a torn ACL of his own. According to Sky Sports, Spurs have suffered three ACL injuries in the same attacking area, a misfortune Carragher described as “really unfortunate.”
Maddison: The Only Spark Left?
Maddison has been included in the matchday squad for the last two fixtures but has not yet been deemed fit enough to make his long-awaited return. Carragher, however, thinks the 28-year-old could be the difference-maker in the run-in. “He is the only one I can think of in terms of doing something special,” the pundit said. “He’s got that quality I mention in terms of Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Gibbs-White. He’s 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.”
Who Scores for Spurs?
Carragher’s concern extends beyond Maddison’s fitness. He questioned where Tottenham’s goals will come from in the remaining matches: two home games against Leeds and Everton, and two tough away trips to Villa Park and Stamford Bridge. “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?” he asked. “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.”
By contrast, relegation rivals West Ham and Nottingham Forest boast proven match-winners in Bowen and Gibbs-White. Carragher noted that Spurs “don’t have a player in the attack that can even come close to either of those players.”
Key Takeaways
- Injury nightmare: Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison have all suffered season-ending or long-term injuries.
- Maddison’s potential role: Carragher believes Maddison, even in short cameos, can provide the creative spark Spurs desperately need.
- Goal drought: Spurs lack a reliable attacking threat compared to West Ham and Nottingham Forest, putting immense pressure on their defence.
- Run-in: Spurs face Leeds (H), Everton (H), Aston Villa (A), and Chelsea (A)—a daunting schedule for a team that just won for the first time in 2026.
- Relegation battle: Tottenham sit two points above the drop zone with four games left, alongside West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
Infographic: Spurs’ Survival Snapshot
Position: 18th (relegation zone) | Points from safety: 2 | Games left: 4
Injured attackers (ACL): Simons, Kulusevski, Maddison, Kudus
Key remaining fixtures: vs Leeds (H), vs Everton (H), @ Aston Villa (A), @ Chelsea (A)
Last win: 1-0 vs Wolves (first of 2026)
What’s Next for Spurs?
With the international break offering a chance to regroup, Tottenham’s immediate focus will be on getting Maddison fit enough to feature. Carragher summed up the situation bluntly: “For Spurs to stay up, I feel he has a role to play.” Whether the 28-year-old can deliver the required “magic” remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Spurs cannot afford to wait much longer.
For more on Tottenham’s relegation battle, check out our Tottenham Hotspur club page and the latest Premier League standings.