Former Tottenham star Jermain Defoe feels James Maddison is the most underrated Premier League player right now
Tottenham Hotspur fans had high expectations from the team at the start of the 2024/25 after Ange Postecoglou’s first year in charge of the club. The Greece-born Australian tactician gave the team a playing identity that was fast, rip-roaring and entertaining to watch not only for the fans but neutral as well.
However, things have just not panned the way they had hoped. An injury crisis have derailed Spurs’ domestic season. They continue to languish in the bottom half of the Premier League table and eliminated from the domestic cup competitions. Only a handful of players—such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski—have managed to catch the eye with their performances. Rest of the Tottenham squad have largely underperformed.
Former England striker Jermain Defoe has just named one of Tottenham’s best players as the Premier League’s most underrated player presently. The Premier League Productions pundit has picked James Maddison as the English top-flight’s most underrated player, stating that while he probably hasn’t been at his best this season, when fully fit and firing, the creative midfielder’s excellent ability can be overlooked at times.
Jermain Defoe names James Maddison as the most underrated Premier League player right now
Jermain Defoe names Tottenham midfielder James Maddison as the most underrated Premier League player right now
When asked who the most underrated player in the Premier League is, Defoe told LiveScore:
“Maybe James Maddison, you know. I think when we see when he does play for Tottenham the qualities that he brings.
“I would just love to see him back in the England squad and trying to get in the England team. He missed out on the Euros which was obviously disappointing for him, but I think the best version of James Maddison can play for England.”
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James Maddison joined Tottenham in a £40m deal from Leicester City in the summer of 2023, arriving in North London as one of the best creative talents of the Premier League. He started well in his debut season at Spurs, quickly becoming the creative glue of Ange’s side. However, a two-month spell on the sidelines due to injury ruined his rhythm and resulted in the playmaker missing a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2024 European Championships in Germany.
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This season, the 28-year-old has failed to cement his spot in Ange’s first XI. Maddison has operated more as a squad player, starting just 18 out of 28 league games. Yet, the England international has registered 11 goals and seven assists in 39 fixtures, which is quite a good return, considering how poor the North Londoners have been.
We are not quite sure whether Maddison is the most underappreciated player in the Premier League, but we do feel that he has been harshly criticised by certain pundits and his numbers this season are perhaps going a bit under the radar.