14 August 2023 , 11:00
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James Maddison wants to follow in pal Jack Grealish's footsteps by becoming an even better player following his productive Tottenham debut.
The former Leicester star, who made a £40million transfer move to Spurs in June, took just 11 minutes to register his first assist for his new club during Sunday's all-action 2-2 draw away to Brentford. Tasked with being Tottenham's chief playmaker, Maddison is keen to kick on in North London this season and nail down a place as an England regular at international level.
That's exactly what Grealish did after completing his £100m switch to Manchester City in the summer of 2021, with England boss Gareth Southgate recently concluding that the step up to a better team turned the ex- Aston Villa hero into a better player tactically. Speaking at the TNT Sports start of season event in London, Maddison was asked whether he could do the same and replied: "I hope so.
"I say in every interview that I get asked about England that playing for England is the pinnacle of the sport. There's no better feeling than representing your country, seeing your family at Wembley... That's the best feeling that you can get.
"So being at a big club, involved in bigger games, more high profile games, you do well on the bigger stages that maybe means more stage. I would like to think I'm tactically disciplined anyway. In terms of my England chances, I don't think playing in higher profile games at a bigger club will do it any harm."
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Over the course of the club season, Maddison is expected to help England qualify for the European Championships in Germany. Having been selected by Southgate for the World Cup last year, the 26-year-old is well aware that his move to Tottenham gives him a greater chance of once again making the squad.
James Maddison and Jack Grealish have bonded as England teammates (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Have your say! Will James Maddison prove to be worth £40million for Tottenham? Join the debate in the comments section.
"I always had the mindset with England, and my dad would reiterate it, just keep doing what you are doing and the rest will take care of itself," Maddison explained. "I'm going to stick with that, try to play well for Tottenham, if I play well for Tottenham, control what I can control, train well, play well, score goals, create, then the rest will hopefully take care of itself and I'll be at those Euros."
Ahead of his lively debut display at Brentford, new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou labelled Maddison "outstanding" and made him a vice-captain alongside defender Cristian Romero, coincidentally the man who he assisted with a free-kick. "I was really excited to bring him into the group knowing what we needed to build here," Postecoglou said during his pre-match press conference.
"He's been brilliant since he's come in to be fair not just in the games but in training. An area the club needed some bolstering was midfield threat in terms of goals and assists and Madders definitely provides that." The Aussie-Greek boss added: "He's been outstanding in the way he's embraced the club and the way he's developing the kind of football we want to play."
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