Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has been subject to ample scrutiny off late, particularly after Dejan Kulusevski’s thriving performances in his positions off late, and the former Leicester City maestro’s body language has also come into the limelight, suggesting his disappointment about the situation.

The England international has been an early substitute in the last nine Premier League games for the Lilywhites, and he was hooked at halftime in the North Londoners triumph over West Ham a couple of weeks back. And ex-Spurs scout Bryan King has urged James Maddison to “step up” in North London, and he has been expressing concerns about the 27-year-old’s failure to see through the games in the English top tier in the ongoing campaign.

The midfielder was also hooked by Ange Postecoglou in the 62nd minute when Tottenham were trailing 1-0 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park Stadium last weekend, showing the lack of trust in Maddison to finish off games and provide much-needed clinical output when the team needs it the most.

Is Maddison losing his grip at Spurs?

And Bryan King, in an exclusive interview with Tottenham News, has been pondering the possibilities behind this. He said:

“Maddison needs to step up. If he wants to get back in the England squad, he needs to start producing England-level performances. At the moment, his consistency is poor.

“He hardly completes 90 minutes anymore, which is also worrying. What are his fitness levels? What are his contributions to the team on the pitch?”

When he is in touch, James Maddison is one of the best players in that dressing room, but he could certainly be a frustrating figure when out of the norm. Against Palace, chasing the game, Ange takes him off; this leads to multiple layers of doubts in supporters minds. 

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That being said, the season is long, and there is still time for Maddison to rediscover his form and prove his worth to the team. Though there is an abundance of pressure on him now to make a significant impact, especially if the Lilywhites are to maintain their competitive edge in the league and other competitions.