James Maddison’s World Cup hopes: Brendan Rodgers and Gary Neville return to England call for Leicester midfielder | Football news

James Maddison was the star of the show, scoring twice and setting up another as Leicester beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the King Power Stadium. The performance helped his side slip to the bottom of the table and put his World Cup chances back at the top of the agenda.

Maddison has now scored nine goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances and says he himself is in the best form of his career. His manager Brendan Rodgers is backing his inclusion as he wants to add to the lone England squad he won in 2019.

Leicester’s poor form may have obscured the fact that Maddison is thriving at the moment. This result – on Monday Night Football – put his clear quality back on center stage. But having been looked down upon by Gareth Southgate for so long, is there time for him to feature in the World Cup team of the year?

Rodgers revealed in his post-match press conference that Southgate had never asked about Maddison, but emphasized the player’s qualities when speaking to Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and David Jones after the game.

“It’s a really tough job and you know how Gary is there with the quality he has,” Rodgers said.

“I think it’s a shame for the country and for the boy himself. You see his talent and form over the last 18 months. I think it’s only Harry Kane who has scored more goals among the players. England player . .

“Not even being in the squad, and I think there’s a player who doesn’t start but is a player of that quality… and not only that, in international football, that’s the nature of the game. way of holding the ball and being creative to change the game.

“James is all of that. He is an absolutely brilliant player and I really hope over the next few months he can continue the form he has shown over the last 18 months and by someone can get into the team because if you want creativity, personality, he improved his defense in his game, he can play in a number of positions and for me he is An absolutely brilliant player.

“He’s up there, and I love Phil Foden, Mason Mount, the boys that play there. Jack Grealish is different because he’s around more. But Madder can play in many positions at a high level. He showed it tonight.”

Maddison: ‘I’ll have an impact’

Maddison himself discussed his England prospects on Monday Night Footballacknowledges the contrast between the team’s form this season and his own.

He said: “Honestly, it’s a bit of an odd position, because we were bottom of the standings and the result wasn’t our way, but I was almost as confident as I was. ever in his career..

“I don’t remember, in the last 12 months, playing better than I had and feeling better than I had.”

So surely he is upset to be dropped from the England squad?

“It’s hard to answer because you want to say the right thing, not the wrong thing, but that’s my ambition, my goal. I’m a football man, I watch international football and opportunities. at that level it’s something that I aspire to and something that I know I will have an impact on and something that I hope will come to me at some point.”

One explanation for him being repeatedly left out of the squad is that there isn’t a natural place for him in Southgate’s structure. Maddison is at his best midfield, either as a No 10 or drifting in from the flanks, but does that role exist with England?

“I’m not naive, I know there are top players in those areas up front, but I have faith and confidence that I can be in that category,” Maddison said.

“In terms of roles and positions, [I could play] any transition area. You see guys like Phil (Foden) and Jack (Grealish), who can play in those central areas, play a little bit wider.

“It’s difficult to comment because I played on the right wing today, but England play a little bit differently. I haven’t been in the squad for a couple of years so I’ll have to listen to the coaches, but It’s hard to talk about it because it’s not where I’m at right now.

“I will continue to work hard. will continue to work hard and produce such performances tonight and see where it leads me.”

Neville’s Verdict: Why Didn’t He Join?

“Everybody at this point wants England to improve and score more goals and have more attacking players in the team. This is the one who completely breaks it at this point in terms of scoring ability. his desk..

“England often needs players who can pass the ball from set pieces and score goals.

“People like Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, the players in those regions. But if you look at his numbers, why isn’t he in the 26-man team? I know it’s not that. a particularly comfortable question to ask if he was a good traveller, but that was suggested. I don’t know where it came from. There was no substance to that on my part. I see nothing but a good character, a good virtue.

“It’s always ready to come out and answer questions. What’s the reason for him not joining? I don’t think it’s the case that he comes in for Bukayo Saka or Jadon Sancho because for me they are wide players. I would put him in the same category or place Mount.

“A coach will go to the World Cup with a 3-4-3 formation that he thinks he will play, but he has to think he may have to switch to a 4-3-3 at one point. .

“He has to think the system might have to switch to a 5-3-2 or whatever can happen. There has to be a plan B for England. Gareth will have that, and if you need a goal from a knock-out game or you have a fixed part or a bit of quality, you want someone like him on the bench who can change the game.

“There are a few who could but he’s at his best. Gareth has picked players before in terms of form, and I don’t know of any England manager who picks more players regardless of club. theirs or not and he always picks the right players.

“I know people are going to be screaming on TV about Harry Maguire at the moment but the truth of the matter is, Harry Maguire has played well for England and we don’t have many centre-backs. It’s as simple as that. I have quite a few players in this position but James Maddison is in great form and we’ll see what happens in the next few weeks.”