HARRY REDKNAPP has revealed why James Maddison won’t get into England’s starting XI at this summer’s Euros.
The playmaker, 27, has been a smash hit at Spurs ever since his £40million move from Leicester last summer.
Maddison has three goals and seven assists under Ange Postecoglou.
And before he was injured in the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea, Maddison’s stunning form had helped guide Tottenham to the top of the Premier League table.
The midfielder is back in action towards the business end of the season and hopes to end things with Champions League qualification.
Afterwards, there is the small matter of England’s Euro adventure as Gareth Southgate’s men prepare for group stage games against Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia.
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But former Tottenham boss Redknapp reckons that, although Maddison could make the plane to Germany, he is highly unlikely to command a place in the team.
Redknapp believes that Maddison is not Southgate’s “cup of tea”, just like Manchester City maverick Jack Grealish.
And like the winger, Maddison is more likely to make the cut based on public demand.
Redknapp told BetVictor: “James Maddison is certainly the type of player who could get back to his previous level before his injury and go on to have a big impact for England this summer, but the problem is, I don’t think Gareth Southgate will pick him.
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“I don’t think he’s really Gareth’s cup of tea. It’s funny, you get players like that with Gareth – Jack Grealish was never really Gareth’s cup of tea, either.
“Grealish only really got into the England team by public demand in the end. People wanted him in there, as before he’d got into the squad but Gareth didn’t really play him.
“I don’t see Maddison getting into Gareth’s team at the Euros this summer.”
Redknapp continued: “I do like Maddison as a player, I love him. I actually saw him play when he was at Coventry, when he was 18 or 19.
“I said to the manager of Coventry, ‘Who’s that? What a player he is!’ I was managing at QPR at the time and I told a few people in the Premier League about him, but no-one was bothered at that time.
“He ended up going to Norwich, I saw him there and spoke to James and said, ‘you should be playing in a top six team’ – so I’m a big fan of his.
“But will Gareth fancy him this summer? Where will he play him? Where does he get into the team, with the likes of Phil Foden ahead of him?
“He might make the squad, but I do really like him as a player.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
