Tottenham Hotspur remain mired in relegation trouble, but fit-again James Maddison has been backed to make a difference after his eagerly-anticipated return from injury on Monday.
Maddison was introduced off the bench in the 85th minute of Spurs' 1-1 draw at home to Leeds, making make his first competitive appearance in 375 days.
A partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament last May was followed by a complete rupture during a friendly in August which along with a succession of other injury problems has severely hampered Tottenham's terrible season.
A typically candid Maddison described this campaign as "one to forget" for everyone associated with Spurs on Monday after a bright cameo in a draw that leaves the club 17th with a two-point cushion to the Premier League relegation zone with two games left.
However, Maddison is finally able to contribute after a frustrating watching front and his old boss Daniel Farke has no doubt the "baller" can have an impact after he had a front row seat to his comeback where he almost won a stoppage-time penalty against Leeds.
James Maddison returned from an ACL rupture this week. Getty Maddison flourished under the Leeds boss at Norwich, and Farke said: "I have a soft spot for James Maddison. He was my player when he was pretty young.
"If you love football, then you love James Maddison because he is a pure baller.
"For me, he is one of the most creative, gifted and talented midfield players in England.
"You feel [sorry] when such a great footballer and even better human being is out for such a long time, but I was just delighted to see him back in the last matchday squads.
"What he has shown in the last few minutes, although he was out for such a long time, he can be there with a decisive pass, or a decisive cross or a decisive set-piece.
"He is also smart in and around the box to win sometimes smart free-kicks or perhaps even try to win a penalty sometimes.
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"It's always good when you have an option like James Maddison. I'm pretty sure he will and can play an important part in the run-in."
Maddison scored 12 goals and produced 11 assists for Spurs during a roller-coaster 2024-25 campaign.