Goal-shy ace driving Puel Madd
CLAUDE PUEL has demanded that James Maddison finds his “edge” after claiming the England wannabe has gone off the boil.
The Leicester boss has defended himself after he was booed for taking off the £24million playmaker in last week’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United.
Puel (below) has put up Maddison’s number eight times in the player’s last 10 games.
However, that hasn’t stopped Maddison, 22, being linked with Spurs as a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen.
He burst on to the scene by scoring three goals in his opening six Premier
League fixtures, earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad.
But since then he’s found the net just twice.
Puel claims Maddison (above) is not yet doing it for 90 minutes and believes he’s lost his sharpness.
He said: “James needs to find consistency and impact the whole game.
“That is normal for any young player.
“At the start of the season he was more clinical – he needs to find his edge again. It’s not easy for any young players to keep a level of consistency and concentration.
“But I am here to take decisions for the good of this club.”
Puel added that Maddison’s interests would be best served by staying at the King Power Stadium.
He said: “James is just starting his career in the Premier League. Young players need to show it for 90 minutes. “He will have the chance to make mistakes at this club because we are patient with them.
“If there is interest from other clubs, that means he is showing his quality. “But there is still a lot for James to learn.
“This is the right place for him to work.” Puel is desperate for his side to stop conceding early goals. The Foxes have found themselves having to fight back 11 times so far this season. He added: “We need to concentrate – especially early on. “Our record in the second half is very good. “I want to start the first half like we do the second.” NEIL MOXLEY Dec 2018: Leicester 0 Spurs 2 May 2018: Spurs 5 Leicester 4 Nov 2017: Leicester 2 Spurs 1 May 2017: Leicester 1 Spurs 6 Oct 2016: Spurs 1 Leicester 1
Spurs – 55 wins Leicester – 35 wins Draws – 21