Tottenham Hotspur have had a fruitful summer on the transfer front, making a host of exciting signings for the present and future.
Spurs have also begun their Premier League campaign well, picking up four points from their opening two games of the season.
After threatening to thrash Leicester City in their league opener, only to settle for a point, Tottenham were much improved as they hammered Everton 4-0 last week.
One particular positive for Spurs compared to the second half of last season is how well James Maddison has begun the campaign.
The £40million man hit the ground running after his move to N17 last season, only for his form to tail off in the second half of the campaign.
However, Maddison has looked brighter this month, with the Evening Standard describing him last week as “full of beans again”.
Ange Postecoglou has now delivered an emphatic verdict on the England international ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United.
Ange Postecoglou says James Maddison ‘wants to take his game up another level’
Postecoglou, speaking to football.london on Friday, revealed that Maddison has been “excellent” and “consistent” in training.
The Spurs boss also said the 27-year-old is keen to “take his game up another level” and hoped he would be able to do so.
“Yeah he has been good Madders, really good,” said Postecoglou. ” I think I said last week when Madders is physically in a good place and he really is, his training is excellent, it’s consistent.
“We know he is such a creative force in this league, he’s done it for many years and it’s great to have him back up and running.
“He has been excellent in the first two games and I can see in him he wants to take his game up another level. Hopefully he can.”
Newcastle v Tottenham team news
Postecoglou has confirmed that Dominic Solanke and Richarlison will not be available for Tottenham’s Premier League trip against Newcastle on Sunday.
“Dom is close but we’re going to be a bit cautious with him, we’ve got a big programme post the international break, so he’ll miss out on Sunday,” he said on SPURSPLAY.
“The only other one we got midweek is Richarlison, who unfortunately picked up an injury in training, so he’ll probably miss the next few weeks.”
However, Spurs have been handed a boost in the shape of the return of midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
“Rodrigo is all good,” said Postecoglou. He’s passed all the protocols we need to.
“More importantly he feels really good and the medical team are really comfortable with him being available for Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle are set to be without at least five players, as per the Shields Gazette.
Joe Willock, Callum Wilson, Lewis Miley, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are out injured against Spurs, while Fabian Schar will serve the final match of his three-match suspension.
Martin Dubravka is also a doubt with a concussion injury picked up in training that has seen him miss the Magpies’ last two matches.