Maddison playing at the top of his game – Rodgers
STAYING FIT AND IGNORING ENGLAND TALK HAVE HELPED CITY MIDFIELDER REDISCOVER HIS BEST FORM THIS SEASON
MAINTAINING his fitness and shutting out England talk have been decisive factors in James Maddison’s excellent recent form, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers believes.
The attacking midfielder has a combined 12 goals and assists in his last 10 outings across all competitions and was nominated for the Premier League player of the month award for December.
His performances are in stark contrast to those he produced from April to October, when he lacked influence, failing to register a single goal or assist.
Maddison feels he refound his touch when he took a step back and analysed what he was doing well at the peak of his powers.
But manager Rodgers also puts it down to avoiding injury, with Maddison featuring in more City matches than any other player this term.
“I’m very pleased for James,” said Rodgers. “He’s been consistent now for a number of months. He’s playing at a very, very high level.
“Whenever you get that preparation right and you have that hard work in your game it gives you greater confidence.
“You’re now seeing him playing at the top of his game. And when he’s confident and working hard you see that success.
“I think it’s also down to availability. The key now is staying fit. With James that is so important because once he’s in that rhythm of playing, working, that’s when he’s at his best.
“In the past when that’s broken for him has been when he’s got injured and hasn’t been quite able to get to the level of fitness and then, because of the type of player he is, then affects his game.
“But now he’s in a great run of fitness and the availability is there and you are seeing the outcome of that in games.
“I’m delighted for him because he’s very honest and he wants to perform well and he’s doing that at the highest level.”
Maddison has not played for England since his debut more than two years ago, but is frequently compared to the likes of Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, and Phil Foden.
However, he has been able to concentrate solely on life at City.
“I think he’s closed a lot of that noise out,” Rodgers said.
“There’s always a bit of noise around that but I think he knows he needs to be at the top level for Leicester City before he can even be considered for that and, in fairness to James, that has been his focus.
“All he can do is play to the level as well as he can be consistent as he can be. He knows there’s other big talents as well in and around his position but you can’t affect that.
“You can only affect your own form, your own game. Control that – and that’s what he’s doing at the moment – and then whatever comes from that, then great.
“But for him, his concentration is with Leicester. Like every young player, they will have an ambition to play for their country and be in the squad, and England is a very talented squad, so he’s got to just keep doing what he’s doing, keep up that performance level, creating goals, scoring goals, working hard for the team and everything else takes care of itself.”