Maddison plays numbers game
HIS STATS MUST IMPROVE TO HAVE A ‘BIG SEASON’
JAMES Maddison will know he needs to improve his numbers if he is to have the “big season” that Brendan Rodgers is predicting for him.
Leicester City’s attacking midfielder is still striving to reach the level he produced in the winter, before the recurrence of his hip problem.
Rodgers has said that Maddison is not yet at peak fitness, like most of his team-mates, but that his hip is fine.
However, since his return in midApril, he has not been able to produce the form that reignited talk of an England spot.
In his 16 domestic matches between December and February, Maddison contributed a combined 14 goals and assists.
In the 14 matches since his return, while many of them have been off the bench, he has not scored nor set up a goal.
He was involved in the build-up to the winner at Norwich, passing the ball to Jamie Vardy before he laid off to Marc Albrighton, but he has only created two chances himself in the first three Premier League games.
Maddison is the creative outlet in the side, and so the most pressure is on him to produce, but he is not the only one who needs to improve.
After three games, Ayoze Perez tops the club’s charts for chances created, despite only playing 100 out of the 270 minutes thanks to his red card at West Ham and subsequent suspension.
Rodgers remains confident Maddison’s ability will shine through.
“He was outstanding over the course of pre-season, putting in a lot of extra work,” said the City boss last month.
“I am pretty sure this will be a big season for him.
“He’s a big talent. He is such a technical player who has a wonderful view of the game. It’s about keeping that mentality and that continuation of work.
“If he stays clear of some of the little niggles he has had I am sure it will be a great season for him and for us.
“Up until he got injured, you saw the improvement in that (his numbers).
“It’s not just him, it’s all offensive players, if you’re an attacking player, you can’t go through a season with two goals and two assists, it doesn’t add up.
“These boys here, in my time their numbers will show that they are improving and getting better.
“And as young players who are hungry to develop, that will only get better. James was getting into more threatening positions, creating more and scoring more.
“Hopefully, he and the other guys will take on the responsibility to keep delivering.”
Rodgers knows that Maddison will change as a person over the next few months and years, too, after the birth of his first child, a son named Leo, at the end of July.
“I know he was really excited about becoming a father leading into the birth of his son,” Rodgers added. “As parents, it changes your life for the better.
“I can see the enthusiasm when he comes in.
“He’s such a likeable boy, James, he’s always had that infectious character.
“I can’t say this early that I can see a difference in him. That’s over time.
“He is loving it and enjoying it, which we all do, especially when they are young.”