James Maddison has vowed to continue pushing for an International return.
He has admitted to feeling disappointed by his latest omission from the England squad, but vowed to keep pushing for an international return.
Gareth Southgate confirmed his selection for games against the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Iceland but did not include the 23-year-old on Thursday.
Maddison has now not been involved in the Three Lions senior squad since being handed his first and thus far only cap against Montenegro in November of last year.
Asked if he felt aggrieved by this latest snub, Maddison told BT Sport: “Yeah, if I’m being honest.
“I want to be in the England squad, that’s what I dreamt of as a little boy. I’ve had a taste of it and I want more.
“I’m back fit now, I’m firing, getting the minutes in the legs. I had a long injury last year, I’ve had a couple of knocks this year so I haven’t had consecutive run of games.
“I can’t control whether I’m in the England squad or not, I don’t pick the team.
I can only concentrate on what I’m doing at Leicester and [we’re] second in the Premier League, top in the Europa League so [if I] keep my form good for Leicester then the rest will take care of itself.”
Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Phil Foden are the three out-and-out attacking midfielders named in Southgate’s latest squad.
Grealish’s tally of goals and assists (four apiece), touches in the opposition box (61), and chances created from open play (15) make him comfortably the most productive of that trio in the Premier League so far this season.
Mount and Foden also have posted more goal involvements in the English top-flight than Maddison this term.
Foden has scored twice for Manchester City, while Mount has scored one and laid on an assist. Maddison, meanwhile, has just one goal to his name.
However, as the Leicester man alluded to, injuries are to blame for his reduced return, his campaign comprising just 198 minutes on the pitch to Foden’s 387 and Mount’s 450.
Maddison’s passing accuracy in the opposition half (90.14) is superior to both players, as is a dribble success rate of 75 per cent.
He is also converting shots – excluding blocks – at the same rate as Foden (25) and more regularly than Mount (11.11).
So, should he continue to play regularly, there is every chance his overall output will eventually outstrip his rivals for an England spot.
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