James Maddison will be disappointed after being left out of Lee Carsley’s latest England squad having suggested he feels as sharp as Erling Haaland. The Tottenham midfielder hasn’t played a game for the Three Lions since 2023 and was again snubbed for upcoming Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland - 24 hours after staking his claim for a spot in the team. Despite showing his creativity and class at club level for Leicester and now Tottenham , Maddison's place in the England set-up has been sporadic.
Making his debut in 2019, three years then passed until his next call-up, which came at the 2022 World Cup. Maddison didn't make an appearance in Qatar. He was then selected for the provisional Euro 2024 squad, but was cut from the final group - a decision he said was 'devastating'.
In total, Maddison has earned only seven England caps in five years, and it appears whatever reason it was that Gareth Southgate didn’t select him has now been passed to his successor. That’s despite the player and new Three Lions interim boss going quite a way back - having worked together at Coventry City and with the England Under-21s. Speaking before Thursday’s squad announcement, Maddison said in a Tottenham press conference: “I want to be in the England squad, every player does.
“I know Lee Carsley well. I feel really fit, maybe the fittest I’ve ever been. I had the summer off and it’s been said about Erling Haaland and how sharp he’s come back feelin.