Tottenham’s James Maddison teases £30m man after scoring three in England training today

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Tottenham Hotspur fans will be desperate to see James Maddison return to Spurs in one piece after the international break, after his call-up to play friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month.

Spurs have lost seven Premier League games all season – but four of those losses came in the 10-game period in which Maddison was absent for. In his 18 league outings for Spurs, 12 wins and three losses.

Indeed, the game in which he got injured – the 4-1 loss to Chelsea – he was off at half-time. Already, Maddison is a crucial player for Spurs and not just because he has had a hand in 12 league goals.

But because Spurs are a much better side and almost a different team when the former Leicester man is in the side. His focus has switched to England duty, as Gareth Southgate’s men face Brazil and Belgium.

James Maddison scores three in training, teases Jordan Pickford

It came as no surprise to see Maddison called up by England, but it will surprise many that the Spurs vice captain only has five England caps. Four of those five caps came in 2023, but injury hampered him.

Indeed, Maddison has only featured in one of England’s last five games – starting a 1-0 win over his Spurs manager’s nation and old job, Australia’s Socceroos. He could start against Brazil on Saturday.

Certainly, he is impressing in England training. The official England Instagram page posted a video of Maddison in training, showing the playmaker scoring three goals – including a neat left-footed shot.

It also sees Maddison tease Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford – with the £30m man groaning in frustration at failing to keep out the last of his three goals. Maddison responds, laughing at Pickford.

What are Maddison’s chances of reaching Euro 2024 in summer

What will have boosted any doubt in Gareth Southgate’s mind, or any concerns Maddison may have had about a place in the England side for Euro 2024 – is that he has been included this month despite injury.

Maddison is yet to really do it for England, failing to score or assist in his five caps. It is also claimed that he may have been playing with an injury in the 3-0 loss to Fulham – but in the video, he looks fighting fit.

His form has been superb, even drawing praise from Roy Keane – a pundit notorious for rarely dishing out compliments. Keane said that Maddison is the “perfect fit” for Postecoglou’s system, at Tottenham.

What might play into Maddison’s favour is that Jude Bellingham is really the only other natural no.10 in the squad – and even then, he might play deep to incorporate a Maddison. Phil Foden can do it, too.

It seems then, that if Maddison can stay fit between now and the end of the season – while continuing his form for Tottenham and helping them fight for fourth place, then he will be in the England squad.