LOAN HAS ME GOOD
Aberdeen trip set up Maddison for stardom
IN A far-flung corner of Scotland, they will be celebrating the launch of an England career if James Maddison makes his Three Lions debut over the next few days.
Aberdeen supporters have loved Maddison ever since he announced himself north of the border with a stunning late winner against Rangers at Pittodrie two years ago.
And although his loan spell with the Dons was for little more than four months, it proved a defining period in his fledgling career. As Leicester fans will testify, £24m signing Maddison is not short of confidence. He was outstanding on his debut against Manchester United in August and, given his form for the Foxes since, few were too surprised when Gareth Southgate called him up for the Nations League games in Croatia and Spain.
Maddison’s potential was clear when he made his debut for Coventry aged 17.
But it was his decision to join Aberdeen on loan shortly after moving to Norwich which marked him out as a driven footballer.
“I signed for Norwich and was not getting a sniff so I went to see Alex Neil, who was the manager at the time, and asked if I could go on loan,” he said.
Challenge
“He was happy for me to do so and we sat down and went through all the options. Aberdeen was the best at the time.
“I had already played League One and this gave me a different challenge, playing against the likes of Celtic and Rangers.
“To stick one in the top corner in my second game to beat Rangers went down well with the fans.
“I had a good relationship with them and they were singing my name every week.
“I was only there for four months but it was a big learning curve for me in that short time there and I’m happy with the decision I made.” Maddison, an everpresent in the Leicester side so far this term, is being tipped to become the creative No.10 England have lacked for so long. He loves the hype surrounding him. Indeed, he’s revelled in being the centre of attention for most of his life.
“I was really good at drama,” he added.
“I used to love going to role play and stuff, being on the centre of the stage.
“I wasn’t in any big plays or anything but I liked acting at school.
“So I don’t try and put on a personality to show you guys. I am myself always and that is just how I have been since I was a young lad.”
Maddison, 21, has played only eight Premier League games but felt at home from the moment he warmed up at Old Trafford.
“There was a moment when the crowd was filling up and it just hit me,” he said.
“I thought to myself, ‘I’ve worked hard to be here, I deserve to be here, I belong here’.
“The step up is a big one but I did well that night. I’ve always had that belief.
“I went into pre-season with the mindset – be fearless, go and show everyone what you can do.”
So does Maddison feel he belongs on the international scene?
“I’ve only been in the door five minutes but I’ve worked hard for this and I will try to showcase what I have to offer,” he said.
“You have to come here and be yourself. If you act like the new kid on the block or the young lad, then I don’t think it will work.
“Gareth said to me, ‘Go and show what you are about and why you are here’.”
If he does half as well as Aberdeen’s most famous export to the English league – a certain Sir Alex Ferguson – then Maddison’s selfconfidence will not be misplaced.