“That’s not the type of player I am” – James Maddison on the wing: Leicester City

Leicester City playmaker James Maddison has spoken about Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers asking him to play on the wing this season.

When James Maddison is announced as starting for Leicester City in any match, us supporters are always pleased. If he is plying his trade centrally as a No.10 or No.8, the Blue Army is collectively relieved. Like, if Harvey Barnes is playing – we can work it out ourselves.

However, when “Madders” is deployed as a left-winger, the Twitter fan base – generally a good gauge of public feeling of the faithful – gives a collectively sigh. That’s not because the England squad member cannot supply, cross and score well even from there – it is simply just not his best position. The player himself will inform you of that fact himself.

Placing the 22-year-old out wide has its benefits too, of course; Brendan Rodgers is an astute tactician who wouldn’t pursue the strategy if it did not. For example: Ben Chilwell can get up the line and attack with more space – he needs to do that more to be honest.

Therefore, positively, we see an advanced Chilwell putting crosses in and getting involved in the final third. Additionally, Maddison is given carte blanche to drift in to create and facilitate in a more usual dual role.

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Though, as previously stated by Foxes of Leicester, the Foxes’ No.10 knows which spot he prefers and is most productive as well as comfortable in:

"“Even when the manager asks me to play off the left, he gives me licence to drift between the lines.“He’s not the kind of manager who says: ‘Right, you’re on the left, you have to go and stick to the touchline.’ That’s not the type of player I am, so it wouldn’t play to my strengths [to be stuck out wide].“We have a very attacking left full back in Ben Chilwell who, if I come inside and leave that space out wide, will eat it up. And if I am playing centrally in a four, I can’t just have a ‘free role’.“There are defensive responsibilities as a No 8. You have to put in a shift.”– James MaddisonVia: The Athletic"

There you have it, Maddison is not an out-and-out winger, and he knows it! It’s pretty obvious to be fair. Though it’s great to hear he will play wherever told, along with always doing his best.