Xavi Simons has been told he has seven games left to save his Tottenham Hotspur career.The Dutchman joined Spurs in a £52million move from RB Leipzig last summer, but is yet to truly make his mark in his first season in English football.Simons has struggled for consistency in a Tottenham shirtGettyHaving been tipped to shine in the Premier League, Simons is yet to showcase the creativity and flair that saw him become a highly sought-after player in the Bundesliga.So far this season, he has managed just five goals and six assists in all competitions, but it isn’t just the 22-year-old who has struggled.It has been a nightmare campaign for Tottenham collectively, who are currently battling to avoid an embarrassing relegation to the Championship. The north London side sit 17th in the Premier League table, and recently moved on to their third manager of the campaign.After both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor failed to achieve the desired results, Spurs announced the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as head coach the end of March.The Italian is now tasked with helping them avoid the drop, with just seven games remaining to transform the club’s fortunes.Simons tipped for a fresh startThe constant upheaval in the Spurs dugout hasn’t helped Simons attempts to settle in at Spurs, finding himself in and out of the starting XI under both Frank and Tudor.However, talkSPORT’s Inside Spurs panel believe De Zerbi could be just the man to unlock the playmaker’s potential with his attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation, which would allow him to operate in his preferred No.10 role.Backing Simons to finally find top form, fan and presenter Abbi Summers said: “This is a fresh slate for him.“I’m hoping that we’re going to actually start to see some performances.De Zerbi is hoping to keep Spurs in the Premier League, and could turn to Simons to help himAFP“But also at the same time I think that the formation will suit him. I think the playing style will suit him more. “Obviously he’s still going to get the same amount of time and space on the ball. He’s going have to just think a bit faster and be a bit stronger.“But I think that this manager will suit him way more than the other two.”Simons was left out of Tottenham’s starting XI in each of their last three league games under former boss Igor Tudor, despite being the side’s only fit and available creative outlet.However, he produced arguably his best display for Spurs during this same period – in their 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, which ended in a 7-4 aggregate defeat.Stark warningWhile Summers backed Simons to hit top form in his preferred position under De Zerbi, she also claimed it is now or never for him in a Tottenham shirt.Simons has been warned his Tottenham career will only last a season if he doesn’t start to performGettyShe continued: “I’m looking at De Zerbi to try and get the best out of Xavi Simons – especially positionally as well.“I think for him, he has to start in that number ten role. You’ve got to be able to give something, you’ve got to be able to provide. “If he cannot provide under De Zerbi, he isn’t going to provide under anybody.”Summers’ words of warning were backed up by fellow panellist Sonny Snelling, who spelled out what failing to perform could mean for Simons.Snelling warned: “His Tottenham career is over [if he doesn’t perform].”What is Tottenham’s run-in?Simons has his first opportunity to impress under De Zerbi on Saturday, when they travel to Sunderland.Spurs’ players must pull together as they fight for the 21 remaining points of their seasonThis will mark the first of a make or break seven-game run-in, which sees Spurs host De Zerbi’s former club Brighton the following week.A battle with bottom club Wolves comes after this, before the north Londoners face Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.Spurs host Leeds on 11 May in what could be an important game in the fight for survival, before two tricky final games against Chelsea and Everton.And with just two of their remaining fixtures coming against their relegation rivals, megafan Snelling was less than optimistic when sharing his predictions for his team’s run-in.1: Premier League Fixtures & ResultsHe began: “I struggled the other day to try and find a couple of wins from that.”Sharing the predictions he gave on a recent episode of talkSPORT’s ‘The Takedown’, Snelling backed his team to take just nine points from a possible 21.The Inside Spurs panellist shared: “I said draw against Sunderland, a win against Brighton, draw against Wolves, lose against Villa.”Moving on to Spurs’ last three games, Sonny predicted a four-point haul, adding:: “[We’ll] beat Leeds, lose to Chelsea, draw against Everton – that leaves us on 39.”Inside Spurs on talkSPORTtalkSPORT does Tottenham like nobody else.Stay ahead of every tactical shift, manager sacking and transfer rumour by making talkSPORT’s Inside Spurs show your weekly go to for all things Tottenham related.Subscribe now to ensure you never miss a beat of the action one episode at a time, sponsored by BetMGM.Download the app or visit BetMGM.co.uk. 18+gambleaware.org