James Maddison reminds Stan Collymore of Liverpool’s old Spice Boys

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison reminds Stan Collymore of Liverpool’s old Spice Boys.

Maddison has received an unusual barrage of criticism after being spotted in a casino when he had been dropped from the England squad due to illness.

Of course, it’s not that he is guilty of dereliction and that he has been utterly irresponsible, but former Leicester forward Collymore reckons that the 22-year old can do a bit better to avoid being dragged into narratives like the Spice Boys.

"“When James Maddison arrived on the scene at Norwich, I heard from a few people what a great young talent he was,” Collymore wrote in his piece for The Mirror.“I also heard he was very, very confident and the sort of whom it could be said that: ‘If he was chocolate, he’d eat himself’.“I don’t mind that, actually, because the best players need to have an unbelievable inner-belief if they’re going to go on to be the very best.“But it’s all about channelling that inner-belief on the field and, off it, making sure you don’t give critics a reason to have a go at you.“It’s about making sure ‘confident lad’ doesn’t bleed into ‘Jack the lad’ because that’s when the problems can start.“His decision to go out to a casino on Friday night, having been stood down from international duty through illness, wasn’t the biggest crime and there was no suggestion he was steaming drunk.“But you have to know the right time to do things when you’re in the spotlight and learn that if you do want to socialise, particularly in such circumstances, your best bet is to do it at home with family or friends.“Maddison reminds me a bit of Liverpool’s old Spice Boys, a group I was referred to alongside but never actually tagged in.“Jamie Redknapp, Jason McAteer, Phil Babb and David James were all very talented players but if ever they had an off-day then the Spice Boys narrative would be dragged up.”“Maddison is lucky that in Brendan Rodgers and Gareth Southgate, he has two managers who are good at dealing with young lads.“And I’m sure they will have a conversation between themselves about how best to make things work for him.“I’d imagine Rodgers and Southgate will put an arm round him and guide him in the right direction.“That direction should see him cutting out the chat to the likes of Jeremy Clarkson on Twitter and making sure he is just known for his football.“Because if he doesn’t do that then the likes of Mason Mount and Jack Grealish will be well passing him in double quick time.“Grealish is actually a very good example of someone who curbed his ways — he is now the captain of Aston Villa and someone who does and says all the right things.“He has learned to play the game on and off the pitch, and that’s exactly what Maddison must do now.”"

Maddison can certainly take the advice and try to be more careful next time onwards.

As has been stated before, he hasn’t committed some sin; however, as a footballer, when you represent your club and country, you have certain responsibilities, and knowing what to do and when to do it is a part of that.

The phase that the former Norwich City midfielder is in, it is very easy to let your talent and fame turn you into a bad boy, and that is where it starts going downhill.

Maddison is too big a talent to fall into that pit. He has been outstanding this season on the pitch and if the behaviour off it can be just as good – expect Leicester City gaffer Brendan Rodgers to take care of it –  that’s where you guarantee yourself a career worth remembering for ages.

It is not possible that the recent events have not brought to Rodgers’ attention. Judging by what we know of the man, he will make Maddison sit down and talk to him. It will only do him good.