James Maddison Cleared to Face Crystal Palace: Key for Tottenham
James Maddison has been cleared to play against Crystal Palace on Saturday, easing fears of another major setback for the Tottenham playmaker after his latest injury scare.
The 29-year-old limped off early in the second half of Spurs’ 2-0 win at Chelsea, a sight that instantly dredged up memories of the anterior cruciate ligament injury that wiped out most of his previous campaign. For a player who has only just begun stitching his career back together, every grimace matters.
This time, though, the damage is limited.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Maddison is in contention for the Premier League clash with Palace, even if his preparation has been carefully managed.
“This week he didn't work like the other players, but for tomorrow he is available and he is a special player for us,” De Zerbi said, underlining just how central the midfielder has become to Tottenham’s plans.
Maddison’s recent journey has been brutal. After the ACL lay-off, his season started with another cruel twist: a fractured shoulder in the opening-weekend defeat at Brentford. That injury stalled his momentum again, delaying his full return until earlier this month.
When he did come back, he announced it in style. Restored to the starting XI, he produced a spectacular goal in a 3-1 win over Coventry, the kind of strike that reminded everyone why Spurs committed £40m and a five-year deal to prise him from Leicester City in 2023.
De Zerbi knows that getting Maddison fit is one thing; keeping him fit is the real battle.
“For James Maddison or the players who are coming from a long injury, they have to work more than the other players,” he said. “But he has already four or five weeks – he is working very hard and consistently.
“So, I think it's not a problem if he loses two days [training], but then we have to analyse if we take the risk or not.”
That last line is the crux of Tottenham’s dilemma. Maddison is available. The numbers show why he is so hard to leave out: 17 goals and 21 assists in 85 appearances since arriving in north London. When he plays, Spurs look more ambitious, more inventive, more like a team that should not be hovering near the bottom.
His return to the starting line-up has coincided with a small but significant upturn. Back-to-back wins over Coventry and Chelsea have lifted Tottenham out of the relegation zone and into 14th place, a modest step but a step nonetheless for a side that had been sinking.
Palace at home now offers a chance to build on that fragile momentum. With Maddison on the pitch, the mood around the stadium changes. The passes zip a little quicker, the crowd leans forward a little earlier, the belief creeps back in.
Tottenham know the risks of pushing a player who has already endured too much time in the treatment room. They also know what they look like without him.
On Saturday, they are betting that the reward is worth it.
