Southgate was asked if there was still a chance for players to force their way onto the Qatar flight.
Following his latest Leicester City heroics against Nottingham Forest, Gareth Southgate was asked about James Maddison’s England World Cup chances.
Gareth Southgate, the coach of the Three Lions, has been plotting the “ideal path” for an international, amid calls for the Leicester City midfielder to be included in his squad for the World Cup in Qatar. In spite of his latest international omission, Maddison was named man of the match as Leicester City defeated Nottingham Forest 4-0 on Monday evening.
Southgate was unable to attend the game due to a Legends of Football event in London. However, Maddison’s heroics were well known, prompting talkSPORT presenter Laura Woods to ask Southgate if the Foxes star was on his mind for Qatar.
She said: “I asked in a roundabout way, ‘Is there still a little bit of space for anybody to join this team or has he made his mind up?’ I was hinting towards Maddison because as we were sat there at this dinner, we were watching the goals flying in – two from Maddison and an assist as well.
“He answered in a way that gave us a little bit of insight into what helps him make those decisions.”
England legend Stuart Pearce, who was also at the dinner, detailed Southgate’s diplomatic response, including the “stepping stones” players need to be international football ready.
“What he suggested was when players come to him, the ideal pathway is Premier League football, then Champions League football, then they arrive on the international scene quite rounded with stepping stones on the way.
“But he added the journey isn’t always clear. That’s just the ideal path.”
Despite missing out on Southgate’s most recent squad, Maddison is not giving up on his hopes of a seat on the plane to Qatar.
Speaking after Monday night’s win, he said: “I will keep working hard, I have got to have the mindset of forcing my way in because those players at the big clubs are in at the minute and they are top players, but I think there could be a space for me.
“So I will keep working hard and producing performances like that tonight and see where it leads me.”
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