GARETH’S MADD IDEA
James deserves England call-up
THE time has arrived for Gareth Southgate to go Madd and call up Leicester’s man of the moment.
It was left to the Foxes’ England men, past and present, to condemn struggling Newcastle to a fifth defeat this season.
Jamie Vardy converted a 30th-minute penalty after Harry Maguire’s hooked shot struck the hand of Deandre Yedlin and the defender himself sealed victory with a bullet header from James Maddison’s pinpoint corner.
Southgate surely will have left St James’ Park with Maddison in his thoughts ahead of Thursday’s squad announcement for the games against the USA and Croatia.
The former Norwich man may not have added to his three goals for the season so bar, but oozed class with his range of passing, composure in possession and dead ball accuracy.
“It is not my job to say he should be picked but he has the potential to play international football,” said Leicester boss Claude Puel.
“He has started well but must continue to improve and keep a level head.”
Newcastle are crying out for a player in his mould. These are worrying times for the club, not that owner Mike Ashley seems unduly concerned.
Despite the Magpies slumping to their fourth straight loss at home and thousands of angry fans hurling abuse at him, Ashley – on his first visit to St James’ Park since May last year – spent much of the afternoon smirking with his cronies.
He’s best advised giving Rafa Benitez the cash he needs in the New Year to strengthen a squad which looks to be heading for the Championship on this evidence.
Benitez admits confidence is now at a low ebb. “I’m disappointed. We did not do what we expected to,” he said. “There are not a lot of positives.
“After the second goal, we lacked a bit of confidence but we have to be mentally right for our next game.”
Jonjo Shelvey’s hopes of a Three Lions call-up look remote but there’s no questioning his talent.
The midfielder has had better afternoons and for long periods he was a peripheral figure, but in the 37th minute, he produced a moment of Beckham-esque magic which could have brought an equaliser.
After dispossessing Maddison 10 yards inside his own half, he spotted Kasper Schmeichel off his line and let rip with a 60-yarder which had the Dane scampering back before taking the ball at full stretch.
But Leicester always looked as if they had something in hand. Kelechi Iheanacho had a fifth-minute shot kept out by Martin Dubravka, but once Vardy’s spot-kick went in, the result was never in doubt.