Gareth Southgate explains James Maddison England squad snub amid suggestion Leicester star would’ve been ‘deserving’ of call-up

Gareth Southgate suggested James Maddison would’ve been deserving of an England call-up but the Leicester man missed out due to the consistency of his competitors who have more international experience.

Maddison, who has played just one game for the Three Lions senior team, has had an impressive season having netted 18 goals and recorded 12 assists in all competitions.

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Maddison scored in four games in a row at the end of the Premier League season

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But hasn’t played for England since 2019

In addition to this, the 25-year-old was awarded the Foxes’ Player of the Year award having entered a good run of form from October.

But although Maddison had arguably the best season of his career, the Foxes star yet again missed out on a call up for England’s upcoming Nations League matches, which sees them take on Hungary, Germany and Italy in June.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers believes Maddison ‘can’t do anymore’ to earn himself a spot in the England squad, but Southgate has said it’s the consistency of those who have more experience with the Three Lions that’s keeping him out.

“He [Maddison] has finished the season very well. He is obviously scoring goals but we just feel we are very happy with the players that have been with us,” Southgate explained at his press conference.

“He is competing with Mason Mount and Phil Foden and these types of players in the role where he is at his best.

“It’s one of the positions where there is a lot of strength in depth and you may have to leave players out who may be equally as deserving.”

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Southgate says England starlets Foden and Mount are standing in Maddison’s way

Tottenham defender Eric Dier is in the same boat as Maddison, having also been denied a call up on Monday despite a stellar end to the season.

The 28-year-old hasn’t committed a single error leading to an opposition goal in his last 110 Premier League appearances, a feat dating back to February 2018.

However, he’s still missed out to north London rival and fellow defender Ben White.

Meanwhile, Manchester United trio Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Luke Shaw have also been left out.

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Dier captained England in a group stage game at the 2018 World Cup, but is no longer getting a look in

Maddison’s Leicester teammate, full-back and namesake James Justin, was called up for the first time. West Ham star Jarrod Bowen also received his first England call-up.

Justin was given the nod with Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell still recovering from an ACL injury.

The Nations League will serve as a good test for Southgate to test out who he will call up to his squad for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

For now, Maddison will have to carry on waiting patiently…