Leicester took a gamble in the summer by splashing out a reported £20million on an England under-21 midfielder named James Maddison.
Last season you would be forgiven for not knowing much about the youngster formerly with Norwich in the Championship unless you were a big fan of the second tier or had seen the youngster play for the junior Lions.
However, the 21-year-old is starting to look like he could be one of the bargains of the summer. He has made a bright start and England boss Gareth Southgate should consider selecting the youngster for the Three Lions upcoming games.
Made his mark already with the Foxes
Usually, it is difficult for a player to adapt to a new league, especially if they are stepping up from a lower division. However, Maddison has made the step up with ease, scoring three times and producing three assists in his first seven top-flight appearances.
His general play has also been encouraging, as he is not afraid to make himself available for the ball. The youngster also had the confidence to take on the responsibilities of set-piece duties with the Foxes. Maddison is clearly a player with a bright future.
England lack creative players in midfield
England’s dearth of creative midfielders is a well-documented issue. England boss Southgate has bemoaned the lack of options he has available in that part of the field. It was a major weakness for the Three Lions at the World Cup, as the majority of the team’s goals came from set-pieces.
The likes of Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley have failed to fill their expected potential, although the latter seems to be finally getting game time at Chelsea under boss Maurizio Sarri.
With the lack of creativity in that position, Maddison could just help ease the situation. By no means is the youngster the answer to all the teams’ creativity problems. It would be unfair to put that sort of responsibility on his shoulders.
However, his early performances in the Premier League have been promising. He has shown that he can be an attacking threat with both goals and assists. His appearances so far are surely enough to warrant a chance in the senior squad.
The youngster may have to settle for a place in the under-21’s for now. It would be a major surprise if he were not involved in the senior squad in the near future he continues in his current vein of form.
England face tough games
After this weekend’s Premier League games, there is an international break, with the Nations League taking place during the two-week spell. The Three Lions face tough games against Croatia and Spain.
Southgate’s team are slight favourites to beat Croatia at odds of 8/5, compared to the home side who are odds of 9/5 to win the clash. The Three Lions will be underdogs to defeat Spain, though.
No doubt the England boss will be keen to bring in some fresh faces and look at his options during the two games. The likes of Mason Mount, Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Ryan Sessegnon and Lewis Cook have all been mooted as players who could be in the next England squad. Even Everton’s Tom Davies has been talked about for a possible call-up, despite a difficult start to the campaign.
However, on sheer performances so far in the Premier League, for me, James Maddison is a player who deserves a chance to impress. With very few options creative midfield options, it could be a case of Maddison being in the right place at the right time.
Should James Maddison be included in England’s next senior squad?
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