'A Shame If Maddison Is Snubbed For World Cup', Says Rodgers
It will be a shame for James Maddison to miss out on England's FIFA World Cup squad, according to Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers.
Maddison has been in superb form this season despite Leicester struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table.
The 25-year-old scored twice, including a brilliant free kick, and set up an assist for Patson Daka as Leicester recorded their first win of the season with a thumping 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the King Power Stadium on Monday.
Since the start of last season, Maddison has been directly involved in 26 Premier League goals (17 goals, 9 assists), the second-most of any English player in the that time (Harry Kane on 34).
Yet the former Norwich City playmaker faces an uphill battle battle to get on the plane to Qatar next month, with the likes of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho ahead of him in the pecking order at international level.
Maddison's solitary England cap came in November 2019 but Rodgers believes Leicester City's number 10 deserves a spot at the Mundiale.
"It's such a shame for the country and for James himself," manager Rodgers told Sky Sports. "You see his talent, and his performance level for the last 18 months I think everybody is clear on.
"I think it's only Harry Kane who has created and scored more goals than him, so to not even be in the squad...
"Even if he's not going to start, to have a player of that quality and not only in that, in international football, to have the personality to take the ball, be creative, take the ball and change the game, James is all of that. He's an absolutely brilliant player.
"I really hope over these next few months he can continue the form he's shown for 18 months and somehow get into the team, because if you're wanting creativity, you're wanting personality – he's improved his defensive side of his game, and he can play in a couple of positions.
"For me, he's an absolutely outstanding player, and he's up there.
"I love Phil Foden, Mason Mount, those boys who play there – Jack Grealish is different, Jack plays from the side – but Madders can play in a number of positions to a high level, and he showed that tonight."
