James Maddison is on a mission to make England’s Euro 2020 squad and he’s not going to let anyone get in the way.
While the 24-year-old was recovering from a hip injury at the start of the season, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, and Phil Foden were allowed to grab the headlines – but Maddison is snatching them back now and will want to make more against Liverpool on Saturday – live on talkSPORT.
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This campaign could well be the making of the man, a talented attacking midfielder and one many believe should already be a regular in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squads.
He’s oozing confidence and class this year. Thrilling in between the lines with his exceptional passing, and impressing with his eloquence and spirit in interviews, Maddison is growing into life as one of the Premier League’s top playmakers.
Happy to admit he takes criticism from pundits on board combined with his open talk of tactics and his role to the press, we’re seeing a different side to the former Norwich City man.
And he’s also delighted with his and Leicester’s progress but is self aware enough to know the alterations he still needs to make in his game.
He told talkSPORT: “I think I’m probably in the form of my Leicester career to be honest. I think the numbers would suggest that. I’m always looking to improve and get better.
“I’m by no means the perfect footballer or the finished article but the numbers are good and I’m playing with a smile on my face and I’m enjoying my time here. I think we’ve got a good thing going and we’re in a good position in the table.
“The Premier League is so important and we take every game very seriously, every game is so tough so to look at the table and see us right up there is quite a special feeling.”
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The numbers are a real focus for Maddison right now, and why wouldn’t they be? Sometimes statistics are brushed over by players, pundits and fans, a new focus which can take away from the joys and freedoms of the beautiful game, some say.
Can you put a numbers on a dropped shoulder, a chop back, and a slide-rule pass to Jamie Vardy’s feet? You can and Maddison wants his to grow exponentially and is already set to blow last season’s out of the water.
Maddison’s improvements show paying heed to what the numbers say can make talented players even better, and help set targets – like getting back into the England squad ahead of rivals like Grealish and Foden.
James Maddison stats 2020/21
Games – 21
Goals – 6
Assists – 5
Expected goals – 3.1
Expected assists – 3.3
Shots per 90 – 2.9
Shot-creating actions per 90 – 4.95
Pass completion – 75.3 per cent
Pressures per 90 – 17.85
Tackles per 90 – 1.66
“If that wasn’t my aspiration and that wasn’t my target there would be something wrong,” he says. “I’m a lad who has grown up in England, gone through the lower leagues and that feeling of representing my country against Montenegro, which I did and feels like a long time ago now, was the best feeling ever.
“That’s something that I want and I’m very hungry for. That’s [the reason] why I’m trying to improve every day, that’s why I’m staying out on the training pitch practicing to try and help this Leicester team and ultimately break back into that England squad because I know I’m good enough. I know I’m more than capable and I just want that opportunity to go and show what I can do on that international stage.”
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The conundrum of which attacking midfielders Southgate should pick isn’t a task any will envy but talkSPORT have been told Maddison should be a shoo-in given his recent form.
“I saw James Maddison play against Fulham last week and he was the best person on the pitch by a country mile,” Charlie Austin told talkSPORT.
“For 45 minutes he ran them ragged with two assists – I thought he was first class.”
Meanwhile former England striker Darren Bent was even more effusive.
“I like James Maddison and I have always said that if I could have one midfield player who is playing behind me, because I would look at my game similar to Vardy, on the shoulder, trying to get in behind, if I could have one midfielder it would be him,” he said.
“From an English point of view it would be James Maddison, there is no reason why he can’t play in a three.
“His passing, his technique is second to none. Sometimes you think ‘he can’t possibly try that’ and he doesn’t even have to look sometimes.”
Some may previously have been concerned whether Maddison had the tactical nous to succeed at international level.
Rival Mount, with his intelligent pressing and boundless energy, seems at the top of Southgate’s pecking order, but Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has seen his star adapt to game state with impeccable results.
After their 2-0 win over Fulham, he cooed over the midfielder’s display: “He’s a brilliant player. We’ve always talked about his numbers and getting his numbers up, him and the front players, and that’s the job.
“What he has also added to his game is he’s working very hard for the team. Tactically he’s understanding where to be. Towards the end [against Fulham] we just had to get him to close the game out.
“He’s a special player. He’s efficient and that’s what you want from your attacking players.”
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The feeling between Maddison and Rodgers is mutual and the former is clearly loving life under his coach right now as he sees his game improving.
Maddison told talkSPORT: “He’s a top level manager that we’re really fortunate to have here. The detail and the enthusiasm and the love he has for the game and what he does in training every single day is second to none.
“Every single player in the changing room is becoming a better player under him. That’s a fact. I’ve seen it in my own game, I’ve seen it in other players’ games just because I always say he cares. He cares about making you a better player, he’s not just someone who wants to get three points at the weekend for his CV, he actually wants to improve the team and improve the players.
“When you have a manager that’s willing to do that and go beyond to make you a better player then just out of being happy you’re improving is a great thing and something we have to be really appreciative of.”
You can listen to live and exclusive commentary of Leicester vs Liverpool on talkSPORT at 12:30pm on Saturday
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