James Maddison starred on his full return from injury for Tottenham, proving his worth to the struggling north London club.
Maddison had not started a game for Spurs for almost 18 months before facing Coventry on Monday night. At the back end of last season, he played a handful of minutes, and this season had been similar.
But finally given the nod to start for a side who were rock bottom of the Premier League and had not found a suitable No.10 this season, Maddison put on a show.
It took 14 minutes for the attacking-midfielder to put his mark on the game, bending an effort into the top corner of the Coventry goal.
It was Spurs' earliest goal in a game for a year, and marked the first time this season that they have led in a game in the Premier League.
A minute later, Maddison was given space to drive into with the ball at his feet, and was encouraged by the home fans to take a heat check after having already scored from outside the box. Maddison opened up as if he was going to take it, before deftly rolling the ball through to Archie Gray instead.
The side immediately looked more of a threat going forwards with the returnee in the side, and throughout the game, he proved his huge worth to a side who have looked devoid of ideas so far this season.
Five passes into the final third and one chance created disrupted the Coventry back line, while Maddison made himself a nuisance in the middle of the pitch, being fouled four times.
He at times dropped level with the defence, essentially playing quarterback, picking up the ball and distributing it to team-mates - with eight line-breaking passes to his name.
Tottenham won the game 3-1 and Maddison played a large part, as their highest-rated player - while also increasing the effectiveness of the attackers in front of him, who have looked toothless so far this season.
Dominic Solanke had good chances and Omar Marmoush picked up his first goal in a Tottenham shirt.
Roberto De Zerbi knows what James Maddison is worth
In the last essentially full season Maddison played, he picked up nine Premier League goals and seven assists. It's easy to see how, after his start this season, he could build upon his first goal back from injury.
Roberto De Zerbi will know what kind of player Maddison is, and his performance against Coventry will only reinforce that.
At the back end of last season, the boss told his midfielder he could come on the bench "in slippers" as he solely wanted him around the group as he knew it would be good for morale.
The reaction from team-mates to Maddison's goal proves he was right to think that, and the midfielder's time on the pitch will be good for their football.
