JAMES MADDISON has credited Bruno Fernandes for his World Cup call-up.
The 25-year-old midfielder hasn’t played for England since his debut in the 7-0 win over Montenegro in 2019.
He missed out at Euro 2020 and was snubbed in the last two international breaks.
But the all-important Three Lions call-up came for the world’s biggest football showcase.
Many were demanding Maddison’s inclusion in the Qatar-bound squad after he played a part in 27 of Leicester’s goals in 2022.
And the Foxes playmaker has credited a Premier League rival for giving him the inspiration to succeed.
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Maddison said: “A couple of seasons ago, when I wasn’t in the England squad, Bruno Fernandes was playing very well for Manchester United and putting up ridiculous numbers in terms of goals and assists.
“So I probably watched him a bit closer at that time. ‘How is he scoring so many goals? What runs is he making that I’m not?’.
“If that makes me a student of the game, then that’s what I am.”
The former Norwich dynamo explained that his partner goes mad at him for watching studying so many matches.
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He added: “I watch every game. My house is football mad.
“My girlfriend goes crazy because I watch so much. During the lockdown, when there were four games a day, I had them all on.
“I don’t think that there is a player now that I model my game on – maybe when I was younger. I appreciate all the good players in the Premier League.
“I try and take something from each of the players I watch, whether they are a higher level, the same level or lower. If I’m watching a game on TV, I’m often watching players in my position.
“I’m a football man. I’ve said that many times. Because I just love the game.
“In my head, I’m still that little boy who is kicking the ball around in the garden on or with [England] face paint on.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
