Callum Wilson has credited James Maddison as the most dedicated free-kick taker he has ever seen. Newcastle United failed in two attempts to sign the Leicester City midfielder last summer, with a second bid - believed to be around £45million, laughed off by manager Brendan Rodgers.
Uncertainty continues to surround the 25-year-old after a stellar start to the campaign. Despite Leicester’s poor start, Maddison has excelled, bagging five goals in eight games to prove exactly why Toon chiefs were interested.
Reports suggest Newcastle maintain interest in the midfielder as he approaches the final 18 months of his contract. One eye-catching attribute Maddison produces is, undoubtedly, his free-kick prowess.
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A spectacular set-piece against Nottingham Forest last Monday helped inspire Leicester to a vital three points on home soil. However, should he become the Magpies’ next marquee signing, there would be stiff competition for that gig from Kieran Trippier.
The Toon’s stand-in skipper has scored three free-kicks since arriving from Atletico Madrid in January. One man who has played with both, Wilson, cheekily name-dropped the Newcastle target on his Footballer’s Football podcast.
“I wouldn’t say I see he (Trippier) actively practices free-kicks outside, maybe one or two on a Friday, but I’m usually practising my finishing up the other end,” he said. “The one person throughout my career who I’ve seen practising free-kicks after every training session was James Maddison when we were at Coventry.
“He was young at the time and when you’d go inside and look out of the window he’s still taking free-kicks. When I see him scoring them now, it’s not just by luck or by fluke, it’s years and years of practice.”
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