Tottenham Hotspur supporters know the feeling all too well — the anxious wait for scan results, the cautious optimism that turns to dread. Once again, James Maddison is sidelined, and the timing could hardly be worse for manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Before his early exit against Chelsea, Maddison had delivered his first Premier League start in over 500 days with real authority. The 29-year-old opened the scoring with a brilliant strike in Spurs' 3-1 victory over Coventry City, the club where he grew up. It was a reminder, brief but vivid, of everything he brings to this team.

A spark Spurs cannot replicate

Dejan Kulusevski's return to fitness has helped Spurs find some momentum, but Maddison's presence operates on a different frequency. He is a difference-maker — blessed with natural charisma, a swagger, and a taste for the spectacular that raises the level of everyone around him.

When fit, Maddison ranks among England's most inventive midfielders. Like Jack Grealish, he plays the game on his own terms while still fulfilling his tactical duties. He thrives in blockbuster moments, welcomes the spotlight, and has the creativity to justify the attention.

De Zerbi needs that kind of personality as much as he needs the technical quality. Maddison is a senior figure in the dressing room now, and the characteristics that define him — leadership, flair, and a certain infectious joy — are precisely the qualities Spurs have lacked in their darker periods.

Injuries threatening to derail his prime years

Maddison arrived at Spurs with star quality already established, first at Coventry City, then at Norwich City, and later at Leicester City, where he lifted the FA Cup. Yet injuries have dogged his time in north London. His debut season saw him miss large portions of November, December, and January. The following campaign brought further disruption, including a knee injury that unsettled his pre-season preparations.

Last season was lost almost entirely to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Now, in 2026/27, he has already been stopped by two separate injuries — and the season is still young.

He departed Stamford Bridge early in the second half, replaced by Conor Gallagher, yet Spurs still claimed the three points. Chelsea's stand-in goalkeeper Mike Penders punched the ball into his own net to gift the opener, before Cole Palmer — in some ways the heir to the unpredictable, creative England midfielder role that Maddison might have owned — received a red card to complete a chaotic afternoon for the hosts.

Those circumstances do not change the fundamental truth: Spurs are a sharper, more entertaining, and more dangerous team when Maddison is on the pitch. Two consecutive wins have put a little wind in their sails, but another setback for their key midfielder is a setback for De Zerbi's entire project — and for the fans who simply want to enjoy watching their team again.