Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers says he will give James Maddison 'every chance' to prove his fitness ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United. The Magpies return to Premier League action with a tricky trip to the King Power Stadium, knowing victory would lift them into second spot.
Newcastle failed with two summer bids for Maddison, and the in-form playmaker continues to be linked with a St James' Park switch. The attacking midfielder is set to enter the final 18 months of his contract with the Foxes which could open the door for an exit in the coming months.
Maddison's fine form this season earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad in Qatar, but the 26-year-old did not feature during England's run to the quarter-final stage. Injury ruled the one-cap international out of the matchday squads for the opening two Group B fixtures, and Rodgers confirmed the Leicester star might miss the clash with Magpies after being absent for the Carabao Cup win at MK Dons on Tuesday night.
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Rodgers told LeicestershireLive: “We’re going to give it every chance to see where he’s at. He’s had some ongoing issues with his knee. We’ll assess that.”
Maddison has been a standout star for Leicester again this season, registering seven goals and four assists as the former Premier League champions bounced back from a poor start. This return was not enough to earn him any minutes with the Three Lions, but Rodgers is confident the 'great experience' will still benefit the playmaker.
The Leicester boss added: “You would like to see your players get an opportunity. I had a long debrief with him. He is grateful for the opportunity. He’s come away with great experience and an even greater motivation.
"He did a brilliant job leading into the finals to get into the squad. Hopefully he can use the experience of being in the camp to be in even more competitions."
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