Hungry boy now giving England food for thought
When James Maddison played for norwich he would often leave training carrying Tupperware boxes full of roasted salmon, steamed rice or poached chicken.
his meticulous approach to the game saw Maddison constantly asking team chef Dan Savage for advice on what to eat to stay at peak fitness.
Stuart Webber, sporting director at norwich, says: ‘Dan has been at James’s house cooking with him. James is massive on the little details.’
Behind the style that has taken the 21-year-old Leicester midfielder into the england squad is a substance that should keep him there.
Webber, previously Liverpool’s director of recruitment, adds: ‘Because of his flicky hair, tattoos and coloured boots, people probably expect him to be lazy or big-time. But he is the guy who would shake hands with the security guards. he’d go to the admin lady, give her a kiss, enter the canteen, give them all a high five.
‘And he was the last on the training pitch. none of the freekicks he scored last season surprised me after watching him hit 20 balls into the top corner from different angles.
‘I believe he’ll play in the Champions League — he has that extra bit. I was around top players at Anfield and for me he’s up with Raheem Sterling.’
Those who coached Maddison as a boy tell a similar story. he joined local club Coventry aged seven, staying 13 years.
Richard Stevens, Coventry’s academy director, recalls: ‘he was not as developed as some but technically he was far superior. What you see now is a player who can take the ball under any circumstance. he learned that from being slightly smaller as a boy. If he didn’t look after the ball he’d lose it.’
Maddison made his first-team debut at 17 and scored a lastminute winner at Crawley on the final day that helped keep Coventry in League One.
norwich paid £1.5million for him in February 2016 and a loan spell at Aberdeen brought further improvement.
‘he was soon identified as somebody who needed to be stopped,’ says Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes. ‘They left some heavy challenges on him but he took the hit and got on with the game. I’ve no doubt he won’t rest until he’s a key player in the england set-up.’
Maddison had a breakthrough campaign last season at norwich, scoring 15 goals and making 11 assists.
Gareth Southgate wanted him in a World Cup training camp before going to Russia but injury ruled him out.
everton, Southampton and Fulham all showed interest but Leicester agreed a Championship-record £24m deal. Their faith has been rewarded with Maddison proving his Premier League pedigree with three goals. now for england.