James Maddison always believed he could "be the difference" against Manchester United after his first-half goal secured a 1-0 win for Tottenham on Sunday.

Maddison netted the only goal of the match in the 13th minute on his return from a calf injury, with Spurs holding out to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

They have won consecutive games in the competition (v Brentford and Man Utd) for just the second time this season (also in September v Brentford and Man Utd), while it was their first league win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since early November against Aston Villa.

Maddison has scored four goals in his last four starts in the Premier League, as many as his previous 21 beforehand. He also scored his first goal against United in the competition, in his 12th appearance versus the Red Devils.

Having missed the last five matches, Maddison was delighted to make a mark on his return.

"It's always difficult being out injured. You miss one game or 10, you are always champing at the bit to get back. I went into the game today knowing I can be the difference," Maddison told Sky Sports.

"I'm really proud of the boys, obviously it has been an up-and-down season, we are not where we want to be in the league table. I'm really happy for the lads and for the fans, we're sending them home happy.

"I've always been a goalscoring midfielder. That's why Spurs brought me to the club. I'm here to be that creative outlet and score goals.

"To be fair to the boys who have been fit all season, we don't want to make excuses, but the last few months have been really difficult. For the lads who have relentlessly been going every three days, it's nice to be an injured player coming back to take the pressure off them.

"It's about us being present now and leading like they did during the bad run."

Spurs moved up to 12th in the Premier League with the victory, easing some of the pressure on Ange Postecoglou after a miserable week saw them crash out of the EFL Cup and FA Cup.

It marked their third win over United in all competitions this term and saw them complete a league double over Ruben Amorim's side for the first time in the Premier League.

Having struggled with injuries in recent months, some of those issues were eased on Sunday as Guglielmo Vicario, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert also returned from lay-offs to boost the squad.

Postecoglou was impressed with Maddison and Vicario's contributions to the win, with the goalkeeper making six saves to protect his clean sheet, and he is hopeful this result is a sign of things to come.

"Everyone likes an impending car crash. I am sure we had a lot of people willing that scenario. I know how hard these players have worked," Postecoglou told Sky Sports.

"Our training was better, and I was confident that we would put in a good shift. The focus is still on trying to win games. In the background, we are doing it our own way. We are looking into ways we can do things better but were not going to be the only ones.

"There will be a few that come to my world in the next period and people will see it's not just a reflection of people involved, but the circumstances you have been dealt with.

"Who knows [if there is a light at the end of the tunnel]? We feel, and I certainly feel, there's a massive opportunity in the back half of the year."