James Maddison has been included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Maddison, 25, has been little used by Southgate but now has the opportunity to add to the one cap he has at full international level.
Despite not being an England regular Maddison is a vital player for Leicester and has scored 6 goals in 12 Premier League appearances for the club this season. He has also provided four assists during that time.
England’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, who’s hosting of the tournament is controversial for the reasons outlined in this article, will be formally announced by the Football Association later on Thursday.
FIFA’s deadline for final confirmation of World Cup squads is on Monday — so Southgate will watch this weekend’s Premier League praying that his 26 players emerge unscathed.
He will already be concerned after Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte said England captain Harry Kane was “very, very tired” after starting Wednesday’s Carabao Cup loss at Nottingham Forest.
Kane, who was taken off before the hour mark, has started all 21 of Tottenham’s games this season in all competitions. He also played the full 90 minutes in both of England’s Nations League games in September.
England will meanwhile be without Chelsea duo Ben Chilwell and Reece James.
Chilwell injured his knee playing in the Champions League while a “devastated” James confirmed his absence earlier this week after speaking to Southgate.
England start their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21, before facing the United States on November 25 and Wales in their final Group B match on November 29.
Southgate will be hoping to end England’s long wait for silverware after near misses at the Russian World Cup and last summer’s run to the final of the European Championship, which they lost to Italy. (The Athletic News)
