LONDON (AFP) -- James Maddison made an impressive return to Tottenham's starting lineup Monday as Roberto De Zerbi's team beat Coventry 3-1 to claim its first Premier League win of the season.
Maddison marked his first start in 536 days with an early goal, while Dejan Kulusevski returned to the matchday squad after missing all of last season.
Jack Rudoni equalized early in the second half, but the home side was back in front just before the hour mark when Omar Marmoush scored his first goal for the club, and substitute Ben Davies made the points safe in added time.
"I just wanted to play well, I just wanted to show my qualities and show what I bring to the team and what the team's missed in the last 18 months or whatever it is from my last start," Maddison told Sky Sports.
"So the gaffer asked me to play and he wanted to enjoy watching me from the side, so hopefully I did that."
The Spurs playmaker said he believed he could help propel his team up the table as it seeks to avoid the difficulties of last season, when Tottenham narrowly escaped relegation.
"I'm 29, I've still got plenty of years left, and I have a lot of self-belief, and I know that I have quality that can really help us in this league," he added.
Spurs came into the match at the bottom of the Premier League and as the only team in England's top six divisions without a league win this season despite heavy summer spending.
De Zerbi had taken his squad to Marbella in southern Spain for warm-weather training in an effort to kick-start its season.
Maddison, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in August 2025, three months after injuring the same knee, put his side ahead in the 14th minute after fine work from Mohammed Kudus on the right.
Waiting just outside the penalty area, he received the ball from Kudus and curled a shot past Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth into the top corner.
Maddison came close to doubling Spurs' lead after half an hour, but his half-cross, half-shot curled narrowly wide.
Newly promoted Coventry equalized in the 49th minute through Rudoni from close range.
Spurs lost the ball in Coventry's half and the visitors countered. Rudoni's effort struck a teammate, but the ball fell back to him and he scored.
Nine minutes later, Spurs regained the lead when Manchester City loanee Marmoush held off Milan van Ewijk before firing a powerful shot from distance.
Kulusevski, whose career was interrupted by a knee injury in May 2025, came off the bench in the final minutes to a loud ovation from the home fans. It was his first appearance in 526 days.
Davies sealed the win in added time, scoring from the edge of the penalty area.
The victory lifted Spurs to 16th in the table and eased some of the pressure on De Zerbi.
