Dream Team bosses scuppered as most popular recruit James Maddison absent against Leicester

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.

Dream Team

A maddening weekend for many Dream Team bosses[/caption]

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.

“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.

Postecoglou gave no indication that the England international was a doubt in his Friday press conference.

PA

Postecoglou was without Maddison as he watched his side lose 2-1 to the Foxes[/caption]

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.

He’s scored nine goals, registered nine assists, and his total of 35 bonus points is second only to Youri Tielemans (£3.8m).

Spurs have desperately struggled in the league this term but Maddison has thrived in Dream Team, as have several of his team-mates.

On paper, he was a strong option for Gameweek 21, which makes his unexpected absence even more painful.

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Postecoglou said Maddison should return “next week”[/caption]

It’s all eyes on Thursday night when Spurs host Elfsborg in their final league phase fixture of this Europa League campaign.

If Maddison is fit enough to play against the Swedish outfit then he may be able to offset his weekend blank to some degree.

Looking further ahead, Spurs also have two fixtures in Gameweek 22 but it’s a comparatively difficult double header in the form of back-to-back away days to Brentford (Premier League) and Liverpool (Carabao Cup).

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