Maddison Set for Everton Clash as De Zerbi Addresses Injuries

James Maddison is back in the frame for Tottenham, with Roberto De Zerbi confirming the midfielder is ready to be involved against Everton after shaking off a shoulder problem.

Maddison has missed Spurs’ last three games in all competitions, his creativity and set-piece threat absent while he recovered. The medical team have now signed him off for a return, handing De Zerbi a significant boost heading into the fixture.

The news is not as positive for Dejan Kulusevski. The Swede will remain out, having failed to train over the past week.

"No, Kulusevski is not working with us the last week," De Zerbi said. "It's not a big problem. It's a normal problem."

Kulusevski had only recently made his way back to training after more than a year on the sidelines with a knee injury, but a minor setback has halted that progress. Spurs are refusing to rush him, mindful of the long road he has already travelled.

Mykhailo Mudryk is also unavailable. De Zerbi did not hide his frustration at the nature of the issue, describing it as a "stupid injury", with the club opting for caution as they rebuild the winger’s fitness after a long spell without consistent minutes.

"It was a stupid injury for Mudryk, but we hope he will be back soon," De Zerbi added. "It's a normal process when a player has not played in a long time."

Maddison’s return offers an immediate lift. The real question now is how quickly Kulusevski and Mudryk can follow him back and give De Zerbi the full attacking arsenal he has been waiting to unleash.