sport news DOMINIC KING: How on earth has James Maddison won only ONE England cap? It's ... trends now
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There was a change in expression of Brendan Rodgers as he weighed up the picture that had been painted for him.
Having spent many minutes enthusing why James Maddison was ‘built for the World Cup’, after he had produced one of the best individual performances of the season, Leicester’s manager was asked if he had concerns about any hangover if his mercurial playmaker does not get a seat on the plane.
‘It won’t affect him,’ said Rodgers, firmly. ‘You actually think on it. He’s had one cap.’
James Maddison (left) is being touted to receive a spot in Gareth Southgates World Cup squad
Brendan Rodgers (pictured) says Maddison will 'come back harder' if he doesn't go to Qatar
Rodgers lingered on the word ‘one’ to give his message added emphasis. Maddison’s senior international career boils down to 34 minutes in November 2019, when England were already beating Montenegro 5-0 at Wembley, and it is a situation that clearly causes confusion.
‘He’s already of a mindset and anticipation, like he has been when he hasn’t been in the squad before,’ Rodgers said. ‘There have been other challenges along the way when he hasn’t played, when he maybe thought he should have played, but we’ve spoken a lot about it.
‘If it’s not to be for him, he will have some time with his family and he will come back and push even harder in the second part of the season. Naturally, there would be disappointment. But I don’t have
