sport news England: James Maddison has gone from an outcast to man of the moment after ... trends now
The path that led James Maddison to one of the best moments of his life started with one of the worst.
Before training with Leicester on Thursday morning, Maddison went into Brendan Rodgers' office to return a missed call from the England manager. Moments later, the 25-year-old was 'full of the joy of the world' after Gareth Southgate told him he had been included in his squad for the World Cup.
Maddison's selection is fully deserved - he has been the best English attacking midfielder in the Premier League in 2022 and leaving him out would have been a huge error.
James Maddison has plenty to smile about after being selected for England's World Cup squad
Maddison's fine form for Leicester City has seen him force his way into the Three Lions setup
He will now be hoping to add to his solitary cap won for his country back in November 2019
Yet in May last year, Maddison was having a different conversation in Rodgers' office, as the Foxes boss told his playmaker he would not be in the starting XI for the FA Cup final. Though Rodgers never doubted Maddison's ability, he had concerns about his defensive work and contribution when Leicester did not have the ball.
Maddison is thought to have been hugely disappointed but, to his credit, he listened and learned. 'It was a tough call,' remembered Rodgers. 'He had suffered a wee bit with injury leading up to the final and his energy wasn't quite at the same level as it is now.
'His talent has always been there but at the highest level it is about work ethic and pressing, too. I was able to show him statistically why I had come to the decision. Then it was a case of supporting him and showing him the levels he would need to reach to be recognised as a top player.
'But there was also a physical element. A deficiency when we got him tested - and that was the main factor in that ability to make repetitive sprints. After our medical team saw that, the differences for him were huge and now you see his running, power and strength and then you add it to the talent. That was a key moment.'
Maddison started last season slowly but since the turn of the year he has hardly looked back. Since August 2021, he has 18 goals and 12 assists in the league alone. Yet only last Saturday he slunk out of Goodison Park and had a clear message for anyone who wanted to discuss his prospects of going to Qatar.
Maddison was a substitute during Leicester's FA Cup final win over Chelsea in May 2021
Since August 2021, the playmaker has 18 goals and 12 assists in the Premier League alone
