MY ACCOUNT
James Maddison’s return from injury has immediately sparked an uplift in Leicester’s fortunes.
The Foxes are unbeaten since the attacking midfielder regained his fitness following a knee problem.
With the East Midlanders only three points clear of the relegation zone, getting the most out of the 26-year-old will be crucial to their hopes of staying up.
Ahead of a home clash with Tottenham on Saturday, we turn the spotlight on Maddison and examine his future.
Unbeaten return
Maddison picked up a knee injury in the 2-0 win at West Ham last November, immediately prior to the domestic season being put on hold for the World Cup.
He was on international duty with England during the tournament, but did not add to his single cap for the Three Lions.
Upon the return of the Premier League, Maddison was unavailable and Leicester lost all four games without their No10.
That was in contrast to the team’s form before the Qatar showpiece, with Brendan Rodgers’ men winning four of their last five matches in the English top flight.
Maddison made his much-needed return as a substitute in the recent 2-2 draw with Brighton. He then started in the FA Cup fourth round win over Walsall, before scoring Leicester’s opening goal in a 4-2 victory at Aston Villa.
Goal contribution
Now in his fifth season at Leicester, Maddison has become an increasingly crucial player for the club.
Each season his goal contribution has increased. During his debut campaign in 2018-19, he scored seven goals across all competitions, before hitting nine in 2019-20 and 11 in 2020-21.
Last season, the numbers really shot up, as the Coventry academy graduate scored 18 goals in 53 games, which included 12 in the Premier League.
In terms of ratio, the silky playmaker is enjoying his best ever season. With eight goals in 15 league appearances, along with four assists, he is undoubtedly Rodgers’ most important attacking force.
Yet with this development coming at a time when the overall fortunes of the Foxes has declined, it remains to be seen as to how long Maddison’s reign at the King Power Stadium will continue for.
Rodgers’ admiration
Leicester narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, winning the FA Cup in the latter.
The sale of key players has seen the club’s standards drop during Maddison’s personal ascent, while the goals have dried up this season for the now 36-year-old striker Jamie Vardy.
This decline has perhaps provided the impetus for Maddison to step up and take more responsibility. Rodgers recently spoke about the importance that the former Norwich man now holds for the Foxes.
Rodgers, 50, said: “He is such a massive talent and he has improved so much in every way from seeing him when I first came here. He is one of the top players in the Premier League in every facet of his game.
“That quality he brings to the team, we don’t have anything like it. That’s the reality. Players of that quality give confidence to other players. Everything else moves from that.
“He can create space, he can keep the ball, he can stay on it, he can create. The big area of his game that has improved is the intensity in his pressing. Getting him back in the fold brings a different dimension to us.”
In demand
One of Maddison’s greatest assets is his versatility. Prior to the World Cup, he was in top form playing on the right of Leicester’s attack.
In the win at Villa Park last Saturday, he played in the central No10 role behind Kelechi Iheanacho. He is also able to perform in a deeper midfield position.
A player of such ability, who is scoring goals regularly and is able to solve multiple positional problems for any manager, will naturally be in demand.
Maddison’s contract expires in 2024. Even if he does keep Leicester up, the likelihood is that the creative ace will depart in the summer, with the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham all linked.
A move could help his international career to flourish. Ignored by Gareth Southgate for three years after making his England debut, his form saw the Three Lions boss relent and select him for the World Cup.
Given Leicester’s current position it would seem impossible for them to be able to provide the platform that Maddison’s talents deserve. Should he depart, the perfect leaving gift would be to shoot the club to safety.
