Spurs star Maddison eyes return to England squad

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has set his sights on returning to the England squad this week after his painful Euro 2024 snub.

England interim boss Lee Carsley names his squad for Nations League matches against Greece and Finland on Thursday.

In-form Maddison is a strong contender for a call-up after he failed to make Carsley's first games in charge in September.

That was the latest England setback for Maddison after Gareth Southgate left him out of the Euro squad for the tournament in Germany earlier this year.

Maddison admitted he was devastated to be axed as England went on to reach the final before losing to Spain.

The 27-year-old, who has experience of working with Carsley at Coventry and England's Under-21s, has a chance to state his international case when Tottenham face Ferencvaros in the Europa League tie in Budapest on Thursday.

"I want to be in the squad. It's simple, every England player will tell you that," Maddison told reporters on Wednesday.

"I feel really good at the minute. I feel as fit as I've ever felt, really. I feel like my fitness is at an optimum level.

"Having a break over the summer, not going to the Euros, it does help. I know it's been spoken about with Erling Haaland how he's had a summer off and he hit the ground running and I feel the same. I feel alive on the pitch at the minute.

"If I just take care of my performances for Spurs, which I feel like I'm doing at the minute to a high level, then the other stuff will take care of itself, hopefully."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou backed Maddison's England credentials and will give him the chance to remind Carsley of his qualities against Ferencvaros after the playmaker was rested for the Europa League opener against Qarabag last week.

"I think Madders has been outstanding so far this year. His form from the first game has been really strong physically," Postecoglou said.

"I've said a few times that he's back at the levels where he can play in the manner he wants to and do everything he wants in a game.

"In the last two or three weeks he's had an effect on goals and assists as well, which always gets highlighted with players in his position, but his general play has been outstanding.

"I'm sure if he continues in that vein he will be in the conversation for England squads moving forward."

The trip to Budapest has special meaning for Postecoglou, who was inspired by playing under Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas during his playing career at South Melbourne.

Puskas, who died in 2006, won three European Cups during his decorated playing career at Real Madrid.

"I was blessed to be able to spend three years in the company of one of the greatest footballers of all time, but more importantly for me an outstanding person," said Postecoglou.

"I would love for him to still be around today to see where I am because he played a role in me becoming certainly the football manager I am. He played a role in that but also the person I've become."