James Maddison was snubbed again, but stats show only one England player has a better record at number 10 this season

James Maddison will be disappointed after being left out of Lee Carsley's latest England squad after suggesting he feels as ready as Erling Haaland.

The Tottenham midfielder has not played a game for the Three Lions since 2023 and was again snubbed for upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Republic of Ireland – 24 hours after claiming your place on the team.

Despite showing his creativity and class at club level with Leicester and now TottenhamMaddison's place in the England set-up has been sporadic.

He debuted in 2019 and three years passed until his next call-up, which came for the 2022 World Cup. Maddison did not appear in Qatar.

He was then selected for the provisional Euro 2024 squad but was eliminated from the final group, a decision he said was “devastating”.

In total, Maddison has earned just seven England caps in five years, and it appears that whatever reason Gareth Southgate did not select him has now been passed on to his successor.

This is despite the fact that the player and the new interim boss of the Three Lions go back quite some time: they worked together at Coventry City and with the England under-21 team.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's team announcement, Maddison told a Tottenham press conference: “I want to be in the England team, all the players do.

“I know Lee Carsley well. I feel really fit, maybe fitter than ever. I had the summer off and it has been said Erling Haaland and how strong she has become, and I feel confident and alive.

“I always want to prove the doubters wrong and that's where my hunger comes from.”

This latest snub will surprise more than one, especially considering that the 27-year-old started the 2024/25 season well with a goal and two assists in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, he faces stiff competition for the number 10 spot with Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Judas Bellingham and Morgan Gibbs-White was called by him.

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When asked about the difficulty of bringing in so many talented players, Carsley responded: “It's a challenge with the team we have, we have so many talented players.

“We are always looking to find the right balance, who complements who in terms of the way we play. I try not to get too caught up in the positions, but rather in the attributes and the way we can potentially attack the opponent.”

Palmer is on the verge of becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match.

He Chelsea The attacker withdrew from the previous team to rehabilitate from an injury, but will return as a key player for the senior team in a similar fashion to his European Under-21 campaign in which he assisted the winner against Spain to lift the trophy.

He's the talk of the town right now like Jamie Carragher named him the best current player in the English top flight.

Phil Foden, PFA Player of the Year last season, was also selected to face Ireland and Finland but was unavailable due to illness, so it will be interesting to find out how he is used in Carsley's new system.

Despite a lack of playing time for Manchester City so far this season and a poor European Championship campaign, he remains one of England's best talents.

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Jack Grealish He was also remembered. Many would consider him a left winger, but he started as the Three Lions' number 10 in the interim manager's first match against Ireland. The City star scored in the 26th minute to double the score and make it 2-0.

Asked if Grealish would play if England's star midfielders were fit after the Ireland game, Carsley said: “I'm not sure. Maybe. He would try to find a way to get Jack on the team.

“I'm not sure where he would play, but I think for a player of Jack's talent we have to try to find a place for him. “Sometimes we have to be creative.”

He was then replaced by Morgan Gibbs-White, who continues to impress with Nottingham Forest, losing just once in the league this campaign. Not to mention his several appearances for the Young Lions with Carsley as coach.

Jude Bellingham was also injured last month but returned to the 26-man squad.

This season, with the introduction of Kylian Mbappé, Bellingham has been playing a deeper role as a more conventional midfielder, which is one reason behind his lack of goals (he is yet to find the net this season) compared to last campaign .

However, his heroic acts at the European Championship should not be forgotten, when he saved England from elimination in the round of 16 with a bicycle kick against Slovakia. He is a crucial goal threat.

While all of these players deserve their spot, it's worth noting that Maddison has been more productive than all of them, with the exception of Palmer.

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However, it seems unknown what Carsley thinks of Maddison, although his club director Ange Postecoglou continues to praise the Englishman.

“I think Madders has been exceptional so far this year; his form from the first game has been really strong physically,” the Tottenham manager said.

“I've said several times that he's back to levels where he can play any way he wants and do whatever he wants in a game.

“In the last two or three weeks it has also had an effect on goals and assists, something that always stands out with players in their position, but his overall play has been outstanding.”