![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.spurs-web.com\/wp-content\/themes\/grv-media\/img\/google-discover.svg\")
Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDanny Murphy has warned Roberto De Zerbi that Tottenham may be at risk of going down unless he takes a big risk in his side\u2019s upcoming matches.<\/strong><\/p>\n The mood surrounding Spurs is much more positive than it was a week ago, with the Lilywhites moving out of the relegation zone with their win against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n The way they controlled the game at Villa Park has now also instilled some confidence in Spurs fans, who are hoping that the Lilywhites have now turned a corner with back-to-back league wins after going nearly four months without a victory.<\/p>\n However, with just a point separating Tottenham and West Ham, the Lilywhites still have work to do before they can breathe easy.<\/p>\n James Maddison has been an unused substitute in Tottenham\u2019s last three games, with the attacking midfielder now closing in on a return, having missed the entire season so far due to an ACL injury.<\/p>\n De Zerbi has admitted that he is being cautious with Maddison, given how long the 29-year-old has been out for, but Murphy has urged the Italian to risk starting the attacking midfielder, suggesting that no one else in the Spurs squad is capable of providing creativity.<\/p>\n The former Tottenham midfielder told Betarades.gr (as relayed by Football.London): \u201cAt the moment with Tottenham, it doesn\u2019t feel as though they have got someone who\u2019s got that ability, and it\u2019s not when you haven\u2019t got the ball, because they\u2019re working hard enough. I think it\u2019s more when you\u2019ve got the ball, being brave and having the ability to play free and try and make passes and play through balls and get on it when it\u2019s pressurised and the fans are whinging. Who\u2019s that person?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen him on the bench the last few games, and Maddison is the one. Maddison is the one who could save them because he is a super talent who plays free. He can be the one that fires the ammunition to the strikers, whoever it is, whether they play Kolo Muani up there, or Richarlison. The problem is whether he is fit enough. Like, if he\u2019s on the bench, he\u2019s got to be close, and it might be a case that now Xavi Simons is injured, whether he\u2019s 60, 70% fit, I\u2019d be risking Madison, because he\u2019s their hope.\u201d<\/p>\n Right from his first few days at the club, De Zerbi has admitted that he is a fan of Gallagher, and the Tottenham boss has started the Chelsea star in every game so far.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old delivered an outstanding performance in an advanced midfield role against Aston Villa, but Murphy believes that the England international, like the other Tottenham midfielders, is a workhorse rather than a creative player.<\/p>\n The pundit added: \u201cSome of Conor Gallagher\u2019s best traits are his athleticism, tenacity, and fight. Sarr is another midfielder, along with Palhinha. If you played against those three, they\u2019re going to work, they\u2019re going to fight, they\u2019re going to run, they\u2019re going to scrap. The problem they\u2019ve got at the minute is creativity.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no Maddison, Kulusevski, Simons, Solanke, and the forward boys are looking low on confidence. Kolo Muani, who I like generally, is struggling while Odobert\u2019s injured. Tel isn\u2019t really hitting the heights they thought he would. There\u2019s not one who you can really pin and go, he\u2019s the man.<\/p>\n \u201cAt West Ham, you\u2019ve got Bowen, and you know he\u2019s going to keep going and keep making chances. Summerville, you could throw into that. Forest, you\u2019ve got Morgan Gibbs-White, and he\u2019s the man who makes stuff happen.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.spurs-web.com\/static\/uploads\/1\/2025\/05\/james-maddison-222-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/div>Danny Murphy urges Tottenham to risk James Maddison<\/h2>\n
Murphy is not as convinced by Conor Gallagher as Roberto De Zerbi<\/h2>\n