07 September 2023 , 21:30
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James Maddison has revealed how his new legion of fans can watch highlights reels from when he was a youngster trying to make his way in the game.
And the fascinating insights come courtesy of his dad. “He's actually got some YouTube videos of me growing up as a kid - they are quite good videos,” explained the Spurs star. “You might not want to watch them, you might think I'm rubbish! But he used to like putting together montage videos and stuff and he just did it off his own back, not necessarily to show me.
“I think there are a few videos. One was called 'A Decade of Development' and it was 10 years from when I was a little kid at Coventry - from my first trial to when I left the club.” If you go on to gazmaddy’s YouTube account, there they are. And indeed, there is one entitled ‘Madderz: A Decade of Development’.
Maddison’s dad, Gary - whose account has 431 subscribers - has also posted James Maddison : TRANSITION, James Maddison HOMEGROWN, James Maddison YELLOW (covering his time at Norwich City) and James Maddison ONCE A DON (covering his loan spell at Aberdeen).
And gazmaddy did not just compile montages of his son, with Maddison explaining: “He is a graphic designer and is good with computers and stuff and he used to put montages together and stuff and Gazza features on a lot of them, so I remember a lot of his clips.”
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Maddison has followed Paul Gascoigne’s footsteps to Spurs and cites him as a major influence on his career. Maddison also says the frustration of Qatar 2022 will drive him towards a starring role at Euro 2024. Maddison was part of Gareth Southgate’s squad at last year’s World Cup but a niggling knee problem prevented him from kicking a ball.
James Maddison is currently on international duty with England (The FA via Getty Images)“It has definitely give me motivation for Germany (host of Euro 2024),” declares Maddison. “I was so proud to be there, representing my country. Gareth gave me a massive compliment as we were leaving. He said he knew it had been tough with the injury and not featuring but he was really impressed with the way I had carried myself round the group.
“Him putting his arm around me and saying that as we were leaving stuck with me.” Maddison turns 27 in a couple of months’ time but if he features against Ukraine in Wroclaw on Saturday, it will be only his fourth England cap.
“I’ve been ready for a long time, in my head,” he says when asked if he was set for a good run with the national team. “But there is so much talent here, such a great squad of players in terms of pure ability and talent.
“Gareth is a very loyal man - he trusts his players and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it is harder for people to break in than actually get out, if you know what I mean.
“But, ultimately, when it comes down to selection and stuff like that, the majority of the year is the Premier League and if you play well and control that - which is what I can do for Spurs - then hopefully the England stuff will take care of itself and we’ll keep going in the right direction.”