James Maddison endures chastening day on trip to club he could have joined

James Maddison could have signed for Newcastle. There were multiple offers rejected in the summer of 2022 and, last year, their interest cooled when they were told the Leicester playmaker was hot on Tottenham.

‘There’s only one greedy b….’ chorused the home fans here. That is not entirely fair. He was motivated by reasons beyond money. On Saturday, however, there was every reason to doubt his rationale.

After all, those supporters only targeted Maddison because they wanted to see him in their colours. They aren’t short of crowd favourites at St James’ Park - Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon were outstanding in the 4-0 win - but Maddison has the skill and swagger they like.

It did not appear so during this game, but Newcastle have missed a playmaker of his ilk this season, and Maddison must have wondered if he’d made the right choice as his body language betrayed frustration with team-mates and a game-plan picked apart by Eddie Howe.

At one point, Maddison appeared to plead with Timo Werner to do more - blood and stones spring to mind - and the harder he tried himself, the worse it got. He was substituted in the 81st minute, much to the delight of the Toon Army.

They had plenty else to cheer, though. It felt remarkable after a win just as brutal and convincing as last season’s 6-1 triumph that Spurs are 10 points ahead of Newcastle in the table.

Howe did a job on Ange Postecoglou and his players did the same on every one of those in opposition, especially speed merchant Micky van de Ven. Quick of foot but slow of thought, the Dutch defender was turned inside and out and - literally, as one incredible picture testifies - upside down by two-goal Isak.

Spurs were hopeless and Maddison was helpless. On a dark