Since being named Tottenham Hotspur head coach, Ange Postecoglou has spoken about how it’s the fans who ultimately know the team best. That they are the best judges of what’s going on.

The week just gone has borne that out.

For most Spurs supporters, the few days leading up to Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth were spent fretting about the availability of James Maddison. Ever since Maddison was seen leaving the stadium wearing a protective boot after last Saturday evening’s home win over Manchester United, this became the primary preoccupation for anyone connected with the north London club.

And yesterday lunchtime, this feeling was entirely vindicated.

Maddison was passed fit to play, and when he did he produced a masterful performance, scoring the opening goal and bossing the game before being taken off after 73 minutes of a 2-0 victory that, until they were supplanted by West Ham United five hours later after their defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, took Spurs to the top of the Premier League table.

Maddison wears Tottenham’s No 10 shirt, but he takes up so many different positions that he could be their No 24 — a No 6, a No 8 and a No 10 rolled into one. Postecoglou nominally positioned him as the left-sided No 8 of a central midfield three (and that was where his average position was), but it was clear early on that he was trusted to go more or less where he pleased.

This freedom, and how much Maddison is making of it, helps to explain why, after only three league games for the club, the man bought this summer from relegated Leicester City feels like the one player Spurs absolutely can’t do without. Hence the fretting about his availability for the Bournemouth trip.

In so many ways, Maddison is already the leader of this team. It’s why he was appointed one of Tottenham’s two vice-captains before even playing a competitive game for them.

What stood out the most against Bournemouth was Maddison’s role as the “technical leader”.

After just five minutes, he dropped way back into his own penalty area to receive the ball and then shimmied his way out of trouble. Soon after, he went through on the inside-left position but was denied by goalkeeper Neto.

No matter. Two minutes later, he switched over to the other side of the pitch and put Spurs ahead after latching onto Pape Matar Sarr’s through ball. His team-mates joined Maddison in his trademark dart-throwing celebration, the visiting fans sang his name, and it was clear already that this was absolutely going to be his game.