Maddison has little to celebrate on his big day

JAMES MADDISON’s participation in the World Cup hangs in the balance after spending his birthday on the treatment table.

The Leicester playmaker, left, who turned 26 yesterday, was treated to a lusty rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ at the beginning of the team

By Matthew Dunn

meeting from the rest of the squad and backroom staff.

And in the evening, he was presented with a small cake at the team hotel following dinner.

But the festivities offered little respite to another day spent working in the physio department.

England’s medical team continued work on the knee injury picked up against West Ham on the final weekend of Premier League action that has kept him out of main training for all bar the first session in Qatar. Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford said: “He was doing a bit of a programme with the physios and sport science staff.

“His morale is brilliant, he is a great lad Madders and is always full of energy so is good around the place and I think he’ll be looking to train soon.”