Can James Maddison be the missing piece of the puzzle for Tottenham?

Former Coventry City academy coach Richard Stevens believes the midfielder has the ability "to connect everything together" for Roberto de Zerbi's side, who remain winless in the Premier League after six matches.

Maddison, who is coming back from injury, came off the bench at Manchester United on Saturday for a fifth time this season and made an impact as Spurs fought back to leave Old Trafford with a point.

"His driver is, 'am I playing 90 minutes and can I go and score some goals and ignite the fans?'," said Stevens. "Even in a 10-minute spell, when he comes on he takes the ball and he makes things happen.

"He makes things tick and he gets the team playing forwards. He gets the team moving up the pitch.

"And, good grief, Tottenham have had a tough time. They're an unbelievable football club and you know the players they have, maybe he's the bit that's going to connect everything together.

"I hope he's going to return and he's going to connect everything together for Tottenham because I think he has that ability to do that."

Maddison will face his boyhood club Coventry City on Monday for just the third time since being sold on transfer deadline day in 2016 aged 19.

"Everybody's really proud and Coventry will be proud as well," added Stevens. "They'll be looking forward to playing against him, I'm sure."