Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has affirmed that James Maddison is fully prepared to make his comeback from injury against Manchester City.

James Maddison is set to make his long-awaited return from injury as Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night.

The midfielder has been out of action for almost three months after sustaining an ankle injury in a Premier League clash against Chelsea.

Maddison’s absence has been keenly felt by Spurs, who suffered four defeats in five league matches without him. The England international had made an immediate impact at the club, scoring three goals and providing five assists in his 11 top-flight appearances since joining from Leicester City in the summer.

However, manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Maddison is fit and available to start against Man City, having successfully completed training this week. Postecoglou stated in his pre-match press conference that he assumes a player is ready to start when they are available, but the final decision will depend on the condition of the rest of the squad on game day.

The return of Maddison will be a welcome boost for Spurs, who are currently missing Son Heung-min due to his participation in the Asian Cup with South Korea. Additionally, Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away at the Africa Cup of Nations representing Senegal and Mali respectively.

In further positive news for Tottenham, Dejan Kulusevski is also back in contention after recovering from illness. The midfielder missed the team’s recent 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

Postecoglou acknowledged the importance of Maddison’s return, highlighting his unique qualities and the need to adapt in his absence. However, the manager also noted that the team has learned to cope without relying solely on the midfielder.

Following their FA Cup clash with Man City, Spurs will face Brentford in the Premier League on January 31, with the match set to be broadcast live on TNT Sports.