Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics:Â Gary Neville, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Football
Ryan Smart
Topics:Â Gary Neville, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Football
Gary Neville's choice for the Premier League star he believes had the biggest impact on his club hasn't played a league match this season.
Back in October 2023, Manchester United legend Neville assessed the start of the 2023/24 season, which saw a surprise team lead the way at the top of the table.
Ange Postecoglou's Spurs were in first place on goal difference ahead of fierce London rivals Arsenal.
Manchester City, meanwhile, had lost two of their eight matches and therefore sat third, but would eventually go on to win the title.
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Spurs' unbeaten run came to an end in November when they were defeated 4-1 at home by Chelsea.
They were reduced to just nine men on 55 minutes when Destiny Udogie was shown a red card, with Cristian Romero having already been sent off in the first half.
Postecoglou responded by playing an exceptionally high line in an attempt to win the game, rather than sit back and absorb pressure.
The tactic almost worked as Chelsea players were repeatedly flagged offside or missed easy chances, before Nicolas Jackson finally scored on 75 minutes to make it 2-1.
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Spurs' task also wasn't helped by James Maddison being forced off in the first half due to injury - with Neville having named the England midfielder as the player who was having the biggest impact on their side.
Neville told Sky Sports: "I think he's had the biggest impact on a club.
"It's just his enthusiasm. We have done Friday Night Football [for] five, six years while he was at Leicester, and he is brilliant to have around, great to come into the interviews.
"You can imagine him in the changing room. They've just got to keep him fit, keep him buzzing and keep feeding him, because he is so influential."
Maddison was due to play a key role for Spurs under new manager Thomas Frank this campaign, but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during pre-season.
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He underwent surgery but is likely to miss most, if not all, of the Premier League season.
Maddison has stated that he is having to be cautious with his recovery to enable him to be fully fit once he does return, having suffered from a number of injury problems during 2024/25 as well.
"If it's eight months, six months isn't a question. The stage I'm at now, this needs to be right now," he said.
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"I'm 28. I'm going to be 29 when I return. I'm in my prime, really. These are my peak years ahead of me. I need to come back and I need to stay fit.
"So actually I'm not going to be pushing to say, 'Oh why are you taking so long', sort of thing.
"But if it gets to eight months and we're flying or whatever, if I'm in the right frame, that will allow me to play this season won't it, towards the end."