England Snub To James Maddison For World Cup Would Be Bordering On Insanity

England looked very tired during the Nations League games last month and it would have been the perfect opportunity to sub on the Leicester live wire to pick up the pace. 

But instead, Maddison was on his holiday soaking up the sun whilst his England team mates suffered the country's worst home defeat for 94 years. 

The midfielder scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists after a very consistent season which earned him the Player of the Year award at his club. Consistency that England are in desperate need of. 

Despite his stellar performances, Maddison found himself out of Southgate’s latest squad of 27. The England boss has always been loyal to the players that has helped shape his tenure in charge, but that loyalty is beginning to turn into favouritism. 

Southgate’s explanation for snubbing Maddison was that ‘others were ahead of him’ but the stats begs to differ. 

Maddison has outscored every midfielder in Southgate’s squad, and has more goals than some of England’s forwards. 

With just two games left for Southgate before the World Cup, it would be bonkers to not give Maddison a chance to impress, it is the least that he deserves. 

The pressure will be on Southgate to deliver silverware with the talent that he has at his disposal, after finishing fourth, third and second in three major tournaments, will England finally go one step further and bring football home at the 2022 Qatar World Cup?