FROM FOXES INTO LIONS
Rodgers: Show club class
BRENDAN RODGERS has a simple message for his England hopefuls: Play well for me and you’ll win an international call-up.
The Leicester manager is challenging James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and the rest of his pack of young Lions to turn on the style if they want to catch Gareth Southgate’s eye.
Rodgers has it all on to repeat his first full season at the King Power Stadium when the Foxes finished fifth – only missing out on the Champions League after losing to Manchester United on the final day of the campaign.
And he says that if he can squeeze a similar level of effort from his domestic stars, they will be rewarded.
Rodgers (right) said: “I look at all my English players and if they go on and have a really good season then they won’t be far from the squad.
“James Maddison is a big talent, but he also has the personality and belief to play at that level. He knows that if he plays well for Leicester, there is a great opportunity.
Talent
“But I look at the likes of Harvey Barnes as well, and if he can produce numbers in terms of goals and assists then he wouldn’t be too far away.
“James Justin is improving all the time, he’s a young player and also has talent. Demarai Gray (circled, right) has been in and around that level and is still waiting for that breakthrough.
“But in order for them to do that they have to play well consistently at their clubs. If they can do that I am sure there will be a few of them who will be close.”
When the Premier League restarted after lockdown, City were eight points ahead of fifth place but saw that advantage whittled down as the Champions League places slipped agonisingly from their grasp.
Rodgers said:
“There’s no doubt we were disappointed – and it hurt – but we certainly didn’t fail during the course of the season.
“It could have finished better for us. But we spent maybe 33 weeks out of the 38 in the top four and we will have to do better than that if we are to finish there in the future.”
If Leicester are to progress, they must end their reliance on star striker Jamie Vardy. The former England hitman scored 23 times and ended with the Golden Boot.
Rodgers added: “We need more goals from wide men and from midfield.
“Jamie will always score, he’s outstanding but we cannot rely on that. We need more goals from defenders and at set-pieces. “There are many ways in which we can improve – but it’s having those players who have that real desire to score. When they arrive in the box they really have to want to find the net.”