Tottenham’s desperation fuels claim a star played while not fully fit

Tottenham insider John Wenham has warned that a Spurs player has been featuring while "not fully fit whatsoever" as the club scrambles for form early in the Premier League season. After two consecutive 17th‑place finishes, Tottenham sit bottom of the league after five games, despite a £300 million summer spend.

Summer spending fails to lift Spurs

The £300 million outlay was dominated by midfield acquisitions, with £185 million earmarked for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Yet the club still boasts a crowded midfield, listing Lucas Bergvall, Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison among its options.

Maddison’s limited minutes raise concerns

James Maddison has logged a combined 106 minutes across competitions this season, after missing most of the previous campaign with an ACL injury and only returning for 34 minutes in the final three games. Wenham suggested his limited involvement stems from lingering fitness issues.

Insider’s blunt assessment

Wenham told Tottenham News, "I thought by him having those couple of cameos at the end of last season, he’d have a full pre‑season this time round and then he’d be ready to go for match week one. But that hasn’t happened at all… He was coming on when he wasn’t fully fit whatsoever, giving those cameos to try and lift the fans or lift the squad, and he’s still finding his way back to fitness now."

De Zerbi’s bench gamble

James Maddison recounted that manager Roberto De Zerbi wanted him on the bench despite his fitness doubts, insisting he could sit on the bench “in my slippers if I want”. Maddison took the gesture as a compliment and pushed to help the team, ultimately helping Spurs avoid relegation danger.

Early season woes continue

With the club perched at the foot of the Premier League, the insider’s comments underscore a broader narrative of a woeful recent past and a summer window that has yet to deliver the promised turnaround.