Dream Team bosses scuppered as most popular recruit James Maddison absent against Leicester
Dream Team bosses scuppered as most popular recruit James Maddison absent against Leicester
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THE Dream Team gods can be so cruel. James Maddison (£4.2m) was the most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 21 but the best laid plans of almost 20% of managers were left in tatters when the midfielder was missing from Tottenham's matchday squad against Leicester on Sunday.
![[Soccer player celebrating, The Sun Dream Team logo visible.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-DREAM-TEAM-24-25-OFF-PLATFORM-1-1.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Rumours of a disagreement between Maddison and Ange Postecoglou started to circle social media after the team was announced but the Australian tactician explained that the playmaker was merely a fitness concern following Thursday night's win over Hoffenheim, the latest availability headache in a long list for Spurs this season.
![[Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, looking distraught.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/file-photo-dated-26-01-967044525.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"He's still a bit sore from the other night," Postecoglou revealed prior to kick-off. "It took a fair bit out of the group and he just wasn't 100%.". It's up to the 59-year-old coach to reveal or conceal availability news as he sees fit but Dream Team bosses certainly would have appreciated a word or two on Maddison's condition prior to the Gameweek 21 deadline.
![[James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur running down a tunnel.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/james-maddison-tottenham-hotspur-runs-963258310.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Postecoglou gave no indication that the England international was a doubt in his Friday press conference. With Spurs due to face Leicester and Elfsborg in Gameweek 21, it's easy to see why Maddison was such a popular option when he was assumed fully fit.
The 28 year-old playmaker scored one goal and assisted another in Germany last Thursday to help boost his side's chances of automatic qualification for the Europa League round of 16. A 14-point haul took Maddison's overall total to 197 for the season, a tally only bettered by four midfielders at the time of writing.
