James Maddison Returns to Training as Tottenham Prepares for Crucial Clash Against Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur faces a pivotal match against Aston Villa on May 3. A negative outcome at Villa Park could jeopardize Roberto De Zerbi’s chances of Premier League survival, especially if West Ham delivers a strong performance against Brentford a day earlier. Recent victories for Nottingham Forest and Leeds United have eased their relegation concerns.
In the lead-up to the game, De Zerbi will need to revise his starting lineup after injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke. Simons will be sidelined for the foreseeable future due to an ACL tear, while Solanke exited the last match with a muscle issue. With both Simons and Mohammed Kudus out for the season, the onus is on De Zerbi to address his team’s creative challenges.
Fans will be looking for James Maddison to make a significant impact for Tottenham once more. The 29-year-old has not played since suffering an ACL injury during a pre-season match against Newcastle United in August 2025. After a rigorous six-month rehabilitation, Maddison has been included by De Zerbi in the squad for the past two fixtures against Brighton and Wolves.
Questions Arise Over Maddison’s Bench Role in Recent Matches
De Zerbi regards Maddison as both a leader on and off the pitch. Despite not receiving medical clearance to play, he has placed the midfielder on the bench in back-to-back matches.
This decision has sparked criticism from Football London journalist Alasdair Gold. He suggests that a fully fit academy player could fill the bench role more effectively than a sidelined Maddison.
“Not sure I entirely agree with having him as a sub on the bench if he can’t actually play a part. It does feel like you’re taking the place of someone who, in the midst of battle, you might just turn to and might surprise you rather than essentially having someone that can’t play in that position on the bench,” Gold stated on his YouTube channel.