Tottenham Hotspur have been told their fortunes could rest on the fitness of a key player who is yet to start a game under Roberto De Zerbi.

The Spurs squad has been devastated by long-term injuries to many key men over the last couple of years, and the club are still feeling the effects of those crises.

Dejan Kulusevski has not been in competitive action for a year and a half, but it appears that the Swede is now edging closer to returning to Tottenham’s matchday squad.

Spurs have now been told that the key to making their side tick could lie in another experienced star, who is yet to start a game this term.

Tottenham told James Maddison can knit their team together

Former Coventry City academy coach Richard Stevens, who worked with James Maddison when he was at the Sky Blues academy, believes that the England international is the man who can make the difference for the Lilywhites.

He opined that there is a big difference in the way Tottenham play when the 29-year-old comes off the bench, and suggested that his return to full fulll fitness could transform Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

When asked about Maddison, Stevens told BBC Sport: “His driver is, ‘am I playing 90 minutes and can I go and score some goals and ignite the fans?’ 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 could make first start of the season on a special occasion

Tottenham fans will be hoping that the nine-day break between matches has given the former Leicester City man the time he needs to reach close to 100 per cent fitness.

It will certainly come as a big boost for everyone at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to see Maddison’s name in the starting eleven on Monday.

It will also be a special occasion for the attacking midfielder, who is a boyhood fan of Coventry and first broke through at the West Midlands club.

When asked about the possibility of Maddison coming up against his home town club, Stevens said: “Everybody’s really proud, and Coventry will be proud as well. They’ll be looking forward to playing against him, I’m sure.”