James Maddison hints at England frustration after Gareth Southgate snub

James Maddison has so far remain tight-lipped about being left out of the England squad - but has dropped a big hint about his feelings on the matter.

Maddison was being tipped for an international call-up at the end of a highly impressive season with Leicester City from a personal point of view. However, Gareth Southgate has opted not to call upon his services.

Southgate says the form of players such as Mason Mount and Phil Foden has kept the Foxes playmaker out of his immediate plans. He has picked the likes of Conor Gallagher and James Ward-Prowse in his midfield for the upcoming Nations League games but suggested Maddison is not a rival to them, as he sees City’s player of the season operating in a more advanced role.

“He’s finished the season very well,” Southgate said when asked about Maddison’s omission. “He’s obviously scoring goals.

“We just feel very happy with the players who have been with us in that area of the pitch. He’s competing with Mount and Foden and those types in the role where he’s at his best.

“It’s like a couple of positions where there’s a lot of strength in depth. There will always be a debate about a player you don’t pick, but if you do that, you have to leave somebody out, and they would probably be equally or even more deserving.”

The manager then added to talkSPORT: "He's played very, very well with Leicester but he's up against exceptional players in that area of the pitch. It's as simple as that.

"It's the same whenever we pick a right-back. We're going to leave a very good player out, who in some people's minds would get in ahead of some of the others. That debate will be tribal depending on which club you support.

"James has finished the season well. I just feel others are ahead of him