10 players who could receive a call-up to Gareth Southgate's next England squad

#4 James Maddison

James Maddison would provide England with a much-needed creative outlet

Leicester’s creative midfielder James Maddison was first called into the England squad for their October 2018 UEFA Nations League games against Croatia and Spain, but wasn’t used in either game and by the time the next international break came around, he was sidelined with injury. But the 22-year old has remained on good form throughout the season and it seems like a no-brainer that he’ll be included this time around.

With 5 goals and 5 assists in 27 appearances this season – as well as an excellent average rating of 7.14 on WhoScored.com – Maddison is clearly one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League, and while he’s still rough around the edges, an assist in a Man of the Match-level performance in Leicester’s recent win over Brighton was a timely reminder of his huge talents.

Creative midfield has long been a problem position for England and with both Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard sidelined – and Ross Barkley not really on form right now – these upcoming games could be Maddison’s time to shine. If his incredible goal against Watford earlier in the season is any indication, he could offer a lot for Southgate going forward.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Vikshith R