Leicester Mercury

Maddison is the fans’ choice – but it’s no substitute for some European silverware!

- By AMIE WILSON amie.wilson@reachplc.com

JAMES Maddison has said he’s “very humbled” at being voted player of the season in Leicester City’s end of season awards but would swap his award for a European final “in a heartbeat”.

The midfielder has been in brilliant form this campaign, scoring a career high 16 goals and providing a further 11 assists in all competitio­ns, with two games of the season remaining. His latest goal came in Sunday’s 5-1 away win over Watford at Vicarage Road.

The club’s annual awards ceremony was back as usual on Monday night, after two years without a ceremony due to the Coronaviru­s pandemic. The player of the year is down to a fan vote that takes place before the event, with Maddison coming out on top.

Talking to LCFC TV after being presented the award, the midfielder said: “Very happy, very humbled, I just want to say thank you to every fan who voted for me, it’s very much appreciate­d.

“These are the moments you look back on when your career is finished and I’m over the moon with it.

“It’s such an honour - especially with the team we’ve got and the talented team we have at Leicester, so just a big thank you.”

Looking at his own form this season, Maddison is still hoping to add to his tally in the last two games in the season. City travel to Chelsea tomorow before hosting Southampto­n at the weekend.

“The numbers are pretty good at the minute with a couple of games to go, 16 goals is my best ever return, even beating the Norwich season which actually got me the move to Leicester, which is nice,” he said. “So hopefully I can nick a couple of more in the last couple of games.”

There is, however, one thing that he would swap the award for.

He said: “A positive season, as I’ve said, football is a team game and I’d swap the award in a heartbeat to be in a final at the end of the month in Europe, but that wasn’t to be, so I’ll take the award and again, a big thank you.”

While the European campaign ultimately ended earlier than fans and players would have liked, it was one particular game in the competitio­n that Maddison picks out as his highlight of the season.

“PSV away, the quarter-final,” he said.

“Going down 1-0, knowing what it meant to everyone and to score the equaliser to get us back into the game and then Ricky (Ricardo) winning it. That feeling on that night was a brilliant feeling. Liverpool at home was also a good one and obviously lots of goals to look back on, but I think PSV away was the standout.”

The other awards on the night saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall named as both young player of the year and player’s player of the year, while Youri Tielemans’ strike vs Manchester United at home was named as goal of the season.

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 ?? PLUMB IMAGES/LCFC ?? ‘IT’S VERY MUCH APPRECIATE­D’: James Maddison with his award
PLUMB IMAGES/LCFC ‘IT’S VERY MUCH APPRECIATE­D’: James Maddison with his award

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