FLY JANUARY
Rodgers: Getting Maddison back will be like signing new player in the window... he’s that big for the team
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King Power Stadium: 3pm
BRENDAN MCLOUGHLIN BRENDAN RODGERS believes Leicester City’s biggest January ‘signing will be a fit-again James Maddison.
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The midfield talisman is set to make his first Foxes appearance in more than two months today, against Brighton, after being plagued by knee issues. He is likely to be on the bench.
Maddison has seven Leicester goals and four assists this term and starred as they won three of their four Premier League games before the World Cup.
But now they sit just two points above the relegation zone after losing all four of their top-flight matches in his absence since Qatar 2022.
One positive for Rodgers is the imminent capture of £17million FC Copenhagen defender Victor Kristiansen. But asked if the most important ‘addition’ to his squad is the returning Maddison, the manager replied: “Yes. He is such a massive talent.
“And he has improved so much in every way from seeing him when I first came here to where he is now.
“With his maturity he is one of the top players in the Premier League in every facet of his game. To have that missing from our team makes a massive difference. It will be brilliant to have him back.
“That quality he brings to the team, we don’t have anything like it. That’s the reality.”
After finally forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Qatar, Maddison was unavailable for the Three Lions’ opening two games due to injury.
He was then an unused substitute for the rest of the tournament before reporting back to his club with a separate knee issue.
Maddison visited a specialist on December 28 but, despite the examination being deemed “good news”, it is only now has been given the green light to return to Leicester’s match-day squad.
Rodgers said: “It’s been frustrating for him especially.
“He had a great start to the season. Everything – efficiency, productivity – was there. He went
very to the World Cup and didn’t play but he had a great experience.
“He wanted to get working again but unfortunately for him he wasn’t able to. Fingers crossed he is getting to the end now, and we can see him back on the field.”
Just five points separate the bottom eight sides, and Rodgers expects the battle for survival to go right to the wire.
He added: “It’s very competitive. I think right the way through until the end it will be a fight for every single team.
“If you win a few games you can jump a number of positions, so for us that is our idea – to climb into that top half.”
The Foxes are finally set to dip into what has been a busy January transfer market for their rivals.
Fellow strugglers Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Southampton have already done multiple deals. Rodgers said: “Regeneration is so important – for every team.
“I have been here nearly four years. Normally teams are changing after three years.
“If we can get a few in that will help energise the side. But teams out there are competitive now.
“They want to develop and they can go and improve their squads.
“Clearly there are finances there and they want to improve.”