Attacking midfielder James Maddison and left back Destiny Udogie are two of the most talented players on Tottenham Hotspur, and they are both going to be key for Spurs winning enough to make it back in the top five next season.
Both players also have a lot to prove this season, too. Maddison will be the main starting No. 10 again after Xavi Simons tore his own ACL at the end of the 2025/26 season, and with whispers that maybe Spurs could make some money and be OK without him, he has to prove that the quality touches at the end of the Premier League campaign that he showed are going to be there throughout.
Meanwhile, Udogie has Djed Spence breathing down his back, because while he is a highly talented player and important to Spurs, Spence just had a huge World Cup. Roberto De Zerbi loves Udogie as the main man, but he has to prove it.
Tottenham need them healthy
The main issue for both Udogie and Maddison is injuries. Maddison had a torn ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season that he is still working his way fully back from, whlie Udogie has been injured on and off again with soft tissue and hamstring issues.
Neither James Maddison nor Destiny Udogie have been able to feature this offseason in the Tottenham Hotspur friendlies yet, but after the 2-0 win over Auckland FC abroad, Roberto De Zerbi reassured everyone that there is nothing amiss with these two players.
De Zerbi said, via Hotspur Lane, “He's not working the last five days, I think, like Udogie, but they have not a big problem, just to stay focused, don't take any risks and then for the next game. The next friendly game against Sydney, maybe we play with Tonali, with other players, maybe, we've got to see.”
All Tottenham fans want to hear is that Maddison and Udogie are doing fine and on track for the 2026/27 Premier League games. Especially for these two experienced players who have already proven that they are well above average Premier League starters, Tottenham do not need to see them in action this summer; they just need them to be 100 percent healthy for the games that actually matter.
At his best, Maddison is one of the elite playmakers in English football, and when he is fully healthy, Udogie is close to being a world class left back. Tottenham need both of these guys healthy.
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