CALL OF DUTY
Maddison finally gets the message he’s going to Qatar
JAMES MADDISON missed the most important call of his career – but eventually got the news that he is heading to the World Cup.
The Leicester midfielder was the shock inclusion by Gareth Southgate (right) as he named his 26-man England squad yesterday.
But Maddison, 25, initially missed the call from the Three Lions boss and had to slip into Brendan Rodgers’ office to ring him back.
The Foxes boss said: “He had a missed call from Gareth just before training and I said to him to pop into my office and make the call back privately. He
then came out full of the joy of the world. It was a great moment for him. There was happiness and relief. “It’s wonderful news for him and his family.”
Maddison, who tweeted a picture of himself as a boy with his faced painted in the Cross of St George (inset), will fly out with the squad on Tuesday.
Southgate said every player would be in contention to start against Iran on Monday week. “Why not?,” said the England boss.
“Why would any of the 26 arrive next week thinking they haven’t got a chance of getting in? Some will know they have more realistic than others... but we have to have an open mind.
“Things change quickly and we need that competition for places.”
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson is in the squad with Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher a surprise inclusion.
But frontmen Tammy Abraham and Ivan Toney and AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori miss out.