Tottenham enter Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa under pressure, with Roberto De Zerbi weighing a key call on James Maddison as the club sit two points above the Premier League relegation zone and battle to protect top-flight status with four matches left.

Maddison has been named on the bench for Tottenham’s last two fixtures but has not played for almost a year. The midfielder first damaged a medial collateral ligament against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-final, then ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during pre-season.

The injury problems around Tottenham’s squad have grown, with Xavi Simons the latest to join a long absentee list. That situation increases the chance Maddison could feature at Villa Park, where Unai Emery’s side chase Champions League qualification while De Zerbi looks for vital points near the bottom.

De Zerbi underlined how valuable Maddison already is inside the Tottenham dressing room, regardless of minutes. “[He brings] experience, personality, calm [to the dressing room, De Zerbi said.If you have a lot of experience, you are calmer.” The head coach highlighted these qualities as important for a group handling relegation pressure.

De Zerbi explained that Maddison’s influence extends to decision-making during tense moments. “You can consider the timing: when you have to speak, when you have to say something or not. And I want him to stay inside even if he doesn’t play, because when he is ready to play, I want him 100% inside the plan of the team.”

The Tottenham coach admitted the final call on selection at Aston Villa is still open. “I don’t know [if he plays at Villa], I would like to play with him because he’s a special player. He’s a different player. We have to consider the physical condition, a lot of things, but I think he can be important in the next three games.”

Tottenham’s 1-0 win at Wolves last week brought a first victory of the calendar year, offering a late lift before the decisive run. De Zerbi insisted the remaining fixtures still offer a route to safety, stating: “Yes, it’s possiblebecause we have good players, he added.”

With four league matches left and Aston Villa next, Tottenham’s situation remains delicate yet manageable. De Zerbi’s faith in the squad, combined with the possible return of Maddison from long-term injury, leaves the club aiming to secure survival by turning belief into results over the closing weeks.