James Maddison Returns for Spurs Amid Fitness Concerns

James Maddison finally pulled a Spurs shirt back on this weekend – and not a moment too soon.

The midfielder, who had not played a single minute all summer after an issue that followed last year’s anterior cruciate ligament injury, was facing the prospect of starting another season watching from the stands. With Roberto De Zerbi’s first Premier League game at Brentford now just days away, the anxiety around his fitness had been growing.

On Sunday, that tension eased. Maddison’s name appeared in the starting XI for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hoffenheim at Hotspur Way, less than 24 hours after a different Spurs side had swept the same German club aside 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Maddison back, but rusty

This was Maddison’s first start in almost 12 months. He lasted 45 minutes, a significant step in his recovery, even if the performance showed clear signs of rust.

Early on, he was caught on the ball inside his own box and then compounded the error by fouling Leon Avdullahu. Adam Hlozek converted the resulting penalty to give Hoffenheim the lead. It was a reminder of the sharpness still to come, rather than any verdict on his readiness.

At the interval, Maddison made way for youngster Reiss Elliot-Parris, his first job done: minutes in the legs, contact in tight spaces, a competitive rhythm rediscovered.

Fernandes shows his weight in midfield

If Maddison’s return was the headline, Mateus Fernandes quietly delivered the performance that will really encourage De Zerbi.

The £85million signing from West Ham completed the full 90 minutes, a crucial outing after a calf problem on Tottenham’s tour of New Zealand and Australia had interrupted his pre-season. He looked ready.

The Portuguese international dictated play and produced the game’s standout moment of quality for Spurs’ first goal. From a short corner routine, he whipped in a precise cross that Ben Davies attacked, the veteran defender heading in from close range on 20 minutes to level the contest.

Tottenham then flipped the game on its head just before half-time. Pape Matar Sarr, also back in action, surged through midfield and drove at the Hoffenheim back line. The ball broke to highly rated winger Luca Williams-Barnett, who steadied himself and drilled a composed finish past Luca Philipp. A sharp, confident strike from a player pushing hard for more first-team involvement.

Hoffenheim hit back as Spurs search for a winner

Spurs could not see it out.

After the break, Valentin Gendrey found space and beat Brandon Austin with a volley to drag Hoffenheim level again. The visitors grew into the game, and Kevin Danso came close to tilting it their way, rattling the crossbar with a powerful effort.

At the other end, teenage winger Miracle Adewole almost stole it late on, going close as Spurs pressed for a winner that never arrived. The final whistle confirmed a draw, but the scoreline was never the real story.

Fitness boosts – and fresh worries

For De Zerbi, the positives are clear. Maddison is back on the pitch. Fernandes has a full match in his legs and looks sharp. Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur have minutes again. Williams-Barnett and Souza added to the sense of depth building in midfield and wide areas.

The alarm bells, though, are impossible to ignore.

Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie and Mohammed Kudus have not played at all in pre-season. Dejan Kulusevski is only just working his way back in training after a knee injury that has sidelined him since May 2025. Dominic Solanke was missing again on Sunday.

In goal, Guglielmo Vicario’s continued absence comes with an extra layer of intrigue. He is expected to leave the club before the summer transfer deadline on September 1, and his non-involvement underlines the likelihood of change in a key position.

Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons remain out with long-term injuries, stripping away two more attacking options. Pedro Porro did not feature in pre-season either, granted an extended holiday after Spain’s World Cup triumph, though he has now reported back to the club.

So Spurs head towards Brentford with their playmaker back, their record midfield signing purring, but several pillars of the starting XI still missing. The question now is simple: can De Zerbi’s side hit the ground running in the Premier League while so many of his first-choice players are still stuck on the treatment table?