Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou says James Maddison, like any player struggling to force his way into an international squad, must provide “compelling evidence” to win selection.
Maddison, 27, was not in Lee Carsley’s squad for this month’s games, and has not represented England since he was cut from the Euro 2024 squad by Gareth Southgate just before the summer tournament.
Postecoglou, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, said that ultimately it was Maddison’s responsibility to earn his England place back with his performances.
It has been a difficult few weeks for Maddison, taken off at half-time in the win against West Ham United and then on the bench for the wins over Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Maddison did come on and score a late free-kick against Villa but when it was put to Postecoglou that might help Maddison’s case with England, he said “you need more than that”.
“I have always said with team selections and squad selections, it’s more in the players’ hands than the manager’s,” Postecoglou said.
“They are the ones that need to put up the compelling evidence for people to make decisions. When I select a team at the weekend, or the England manager selects his squad, he is doing it on the back of the evidence he has before him.
“So, if you miss out then you have got to say, OK, I have to give you more compelling evidence next time to get back in there.
“I have never come across a manager who does not select what he thinks is the best team. Whether it is Madders or anyone else, they have got to keep putting up the evidence that means they get selected for the next national team.
“We had Pedro [Porro] missing out for Spain for quite a bit. It wasn’t because the manager didn’t like him, just that there wasn’t enough evidence then. Now there is, he is performing well and is back in the national team. It’s the same for Madders or anybody else.”
Tottenham host Ipswich Town on Sunday and resume their campaign at Manchester City after the upcoming international break.
(Warren Little/Getty Images)
