Overview
- Tottenham sit 18th with four league matches left, facing the threat of their first top‑flight relegation since 1977.
- James Maddison has trained and returned to recent benches after a year out with serious knee injuries, and if he features at Villa Park on Sunday it is expected to be as a substitute with limited minutes.
- Head coach Roberto De Zerbi said he wants to use Maddison but will decide based on his physical condition, stressing the midfielder’s value for the run‑in even before he steps on the pitch.
- The squad has been thinned by injuries, including Xavi Simons’ ruptured cruciate ligament and reports that Dominic Solanke could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring issue.
- De Zerbi urged players to block out negativity and “die on the pitch,” as Spurs enter a decisive stretch against Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea and Everton.