England boss Gareth Southgate ignoring James Maddison at the World Cup has ‘mystified’ Graeme Souness. The Leicester City ace and Newcastle United target did not play a minute.
A huge hoo-ha was made over Southgate including Maddison in his 26-man team for Qatar 2022 in October. He has seldom trusted the midfielder to feature for the Three Lions so far in his career. The 26-year-old has made just a single cap from his debut in November 2019.
Southgate introduced Maddison for his England bow off the bench against Montenegro in a European qualifier. But the Three Lions boss has left the Coventry native on the bench in all eight other available games. He also did not ever call Maddison up again before Qatar 2022.
His place in England’s World Cup squad was also in doubt after Maddison suffered a knee injury on November 12. Brendan Rodgers had to replace his £24m former Norwich City ace after just 25 minutes against West Ham United in Leicester’s final game before Qatar 2022.
Leicester visited West Ham just nine days before England’s opening Group B match against Iran. Maddison would ultimately miss the Three Lions’ 6-2 win and their following goalless draw with the USA. He did not train with the rest of Southgate’s squad before each match.
Yet despite Maddison making the bench against Wales plus England’s last 16 and quarter-final ties with Senegal and France, Southgate elected against introducing the Leicester star and Newcastle target. So, he would return home without playing a single second in Qatar.
Southgate’s lack of belief in Maddison has staggered Souness given the form he has shown with the Foxes this season. Only strikers Harry Kane (12) and Ivan Toney (10) have scored more goals than Maddison (7) in the Premier League this term among all English players.
Maddison also has the most goals from outside of the penalty area (3) among all players in the top flight. While Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka (6) is the only Englishman to lay on more assists (4) so far. Only Kieran Trippier (34) has made more key passes (31), per WhoScored.
So, for Southgate to overlook Maddison at the World Cup has dumbfounded Souness, who has leaped to the Leicester maestro and Newcastle target’s defense in his Daily Mail column.
“I’m mystified why James Maddison, a player whose creativity and scoring stats stand out over everyone else they took to Qatar, was neither seen nor heard of,” Souness said. “And don’t tell me Maddison won’t do the hard yards playing for England.”
While Southgate continually snubbed Maddison at the World Cup, Newcastle is targeting the transfer of the Leicester star. Dean Jones reports the Toon is growing in confidence a move will materialize in 2023, as well. The Magpies consider Maddison as their top target.
A deal to poach the one-cap wonder from the Foxes’ snare will cost the St James’ Park side a hefty sum, though. Chronicle Live cites Leicester as rejecting a £50m bid from Newcastle over the summer. But Toon stars have tried to sell him on the switch whilst at Qatar 2022.
