Paul Merson has issued his verdict on the performance of James Maddison after Tottenham Hotspur beat Burnley 2-1 on Saturday.
Spurs remain in the hunt for a top-four spot in the Premier League after goals from Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven helped Ange Postecoglou’s side come from behind to relegate Burnley.
James Maddison returned to the starting lineup against the Clarets after he started the defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool on the bench.
Maddison’s form since his return from injury earlier this year has been incredibly underwhelming, with the 27-year-old scoring just one goal in 2024 and also only providing two assists before Saturday’s game.
Paul Merson praises James Maddison after Tottenham win
But it was the England international who provided the assist for van de Ven’s winner. And according to Whoscored, Maddison managed to make three key passes.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday (broadcast on 11/5; 17:30), Paul Merson suggested that he was impressed by Maddison’s performance, and noted that he cannot do everything himself.
“You know what? He did alright. He did well at certain times of the game today, had a nice little five-minute spell when he did some nice stuff,” he said.
“The thing now is, earlier on in the season, he was getting the ball on the half-turn, he was going bang and he was putting it through. He is not getting the runners anymore. The runners are not there anymore, no one is making those runs. People look tired, and when you play where he plays, you are so, so, so reliant on people in front of you. You are only as good as the people in front of you.”
Spurs star yet to recapture early season form
Maddison’s season definitely does appear to reflect how Tottenham’s campaign has gone, with the attacking midfielder starting brilliantly before really fading.
That defeat to Chelsea where Maddison and van de Ven went off injured proved to be a real turning point, and Spurs have not recaptured that magic in the months since.
But Maddison is a player with 87 goal involvements in 189 Premier League games during his career, and he is at an age where he should be at the peak of his powers.
Hopefully the rest over the summer – unless Maddison is involved at Euro 2024 – does the former Leicester City talisman the world of good.