Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers talks up playmaker James Maddison

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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers launched a defence of James Maddison after he was pictured in a casino after pulling out of England duty.

As per the Daily Mail, Rodgers admitted Maddison made a mistake but stuck up for his character and added some context to the incident.

He said: “He knows in hindsight he’s made a mistake, but he is a genuinely good boy. He will learn from this. The last thing he wants to do is bring any heartache on himself or his family. He couldn’t go to his parents’ because they’d booked a trip to Prague in the hope of seeing him play.

“He decides that for a bit of company he’ll go and watch the game in a casino, on his own. The perception was that he was in there spending a load of money – not the case. His dad taught him to play poker when he was younger. Not everyone who plays poker is losing thousands and thousands of pounds.”

TBR’s View – If Maddison is being perceived as arrogant, people have got him wrong

People have formed an image of Maddison based on his supreme confidence, flamboyant playing style and the fact he is a young English player with such self-belief.

But he is a humble player, who made a mistake during international week. Rodgers’ reasoning is slightly bizarre but perhaps he should be taken at face value.

Maddison will force his way into the England squad at some stage, but it was a testing week. A good performance this weekend would help him recover.