James Maddison scores Tottenham Hotspur's first goal during a 3-1 Premier League win over Coventry at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Monday.

LONDON — James Maddison made a sensational return to Tottenham's starting lineup on Monday, as Roberto De Zerbi's men beat Coventry 3-1 to claim their first Premier League win of the season.

On a feel-good night in north London, Maddison marked his first start in 17 months with a spectacular early goal, while Dejan Kulusevski returned to Tottenham's match-day squad after missing the whole of last season.

Jack Rudoni leveled early in the second half, but the home side was back in front just before the hour mark when Omar Marmoush lashed home his first goal for the club and substitute Ben Davies made the points safe in added time.

"I just wanted to play well, show my qualities, show what I bring to the team and what the team's missed in the last 18 months, or whatever it is, since 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 indignity of last season, when it narrowly escaped relegation on the final day.

"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 rock bottom of the Premier League and with the unwanted record of being the only team in England's top six divisions without a league win this season, despite a huge summer outlay.

De Zerbi had taken his squad to Marbella in southern Spain for some warm-weather training in a bid to kickstart its season and it paid off against Frank Lampard's competitive Coventry side.

Maddison, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in August 2025, just three months after injuring the same knee, put his side ahead in the 14th minute after fine work from Mohammed Kudus on the right.

Lurking just outside the penalty area, he received the ball from Kudus and sent it curling past Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and into the top corner, sparking wild scenes of celebration among the home fans.

Maddison came close to doubling Spurs' lead after half an hour, but his half-cross, half-shot curled narrowly wide.

Newly promoted Coventry pulled level in the 49th minute, courtesy of Rudoni's close range strike.

Spurs lost the ball in the Coventry half and the visitor swept forward. Rudoni's effort hit a teammate, but the ball fell kindly for him again and he drove home.

Just nine minutes later, Spurs were back in front when Manchester City loanee Marmoush held off Milan van Ewijk before unleashing a powerful shot from distance.

Kulusevski, whose career was interrupted by a knee injury in May 2025, was brought off the substitutes' bench in the final minutes to a huge ovation from the home fans.

Spurs veteran Davies made the three points safe in the dying minutes, poking home from the edge of the penalty area.

The win lifts Spurs up to 16th in the table, buying De Zerbi much-needed breathing space.

AFP