MATT BARLOW: James Maddison is finding his rhythm again after scoring in Tottenham’s 4-0 romp over Aston Villa… his new-found form has to be a positive for Spurs’ top four hopes

James Maddison found the net for the first time since returning from injury and that has to be positive for Tottenham‘s chances of summoning a strong finish and qualifying for the Champions League.

Maddison’s creative flair was integral to the flying start in the first campaign under Ange Postecoglou and he has been searching to find the same rhythm after more than two months out.

He earned assists against Everton and Crystal Palace but his goal at Aston Villa on Sunday was his first since October, in his sixth game back after two months out.

The first in a 4-0 win, it was nothing like a typical Maddison goal, a determined forward run soon after half time to get in between two Villa defenders and force a cross by Pape Matar Sarr over the line.

It tipped momentum in the Tottenham’s direction at a vital point in the game.

James Maddison found the net for Tottenham for the first time since returning from injury

Maddison’s goal tipped momentum in the Tottenham’s direction at a vital point in the game 

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was delighted to see Maddison back on the scoresheet

Brennan Johnson pounced for a second three minutes later and Postecoglou’s team were in complete control once John McGinn was sent off for wild kick at Destiny Udogie in the 65th minute.

‘He missed a lot of football,’ said the Spurs boss on the subject of Maddison. ‘We’ve got a few like that who are just getting their rhythm back, but it’s good for him.

‘It was a really good goal for him because it was as much about his endeavour as his quality in just getting into those areas. These are the kind of things we talk about constantly.

‘We’re going to get more reward for our good play and our hard work if those players show that endeavour to get in the right areas and score goals. Madders is one who has to be more advanced. We know he has the quality to score from just about anywhere.

‘It was a really good goal. He attacked that area where we need players to attack. It was a great ball from Pape too. I’m really pleased with our goals. It’s stuff we work on and it’s great for those individuals that they all contributed something.’

This represents added value for Postecoglou, who has the new dimension of options on the bench since the return of Maddison from injury, Heung-min Son and Sarr from international duty and the arrival of Timo Werner on loan.

Son made it three in three with the third at Villa Park and Werner scored for the second game in a row to make it 4-0 in stoppage time.

Postecoglou made the point when he signed Werner on loan from RB Leipzig in January how he thought there was room for improvement in Tottenham’s attacking department.

Maddison has four goals and eight assists in 18 appearances for Tottenham this season

‘What’s important for us is that we scored four good goals from four key players who need to be scoring for us,’ he said after the win at Villa. ‘I keep saying that that’s the area of the park where I don’t think we’ve got bang for our buck, considering how hard we work in that front third.

‘We had more opportunities to score but I was just really pleased in the execution of all our goals and the players who got them. That’s more important.

‘We can be a team that scores a lot of goals but we’re still a work in progress in that area so to get four goals – and away from home – and the players who scored them was more important and the execution of them was really pleasing.’

Maddison has four goals and eight assists in 18 appearances for Tottenham and will be hoping for a return to the England squad for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium after his ankle injury ruled him out of the last internationals in November.