Madders: “I’ve felt good in the last couple of games”

James Maddison says he’s feeling fit after returning to the starting line-up for our last two matches.

Indeed, the England playmaker feels those matches have done him ‘the world of good’ as he’s fought back to form and fitness after a lengthy lay-off in the heart of the 2023/24 campaign.

Madders picked up an ankle injury on that fateful night against Chelsea back on 6 November, which coincided with the end of our 10-match unbeaten start to the season and us losing four players from the line-up – Madders and Micky van de Ven through injury, Cuti Romero and Destiny Udogie to red cards.

Madders was eventually ruled out for 10 weeks, missing 11 matches, finally returning off the bench against United at Old Trafford on 26 January. He started our next 12 matches but was substituted in 11 of them. After an impressive cameo off the bench against Liverpool at Anfield, he returned to the starting XI against Burnley at the weekend and for Tuesday evening’s huge clash against City, playing for 88 minutes against the Clarets and 92 against City.

Speaking on our Review Show, James told us: “In the last couple of games I’ve felt good. I think it will do me the world of good that I played almost the 90 minutes in the last two games.

“Listen, I always want to improve on numbers and goals, assists, everything. I had a long injury, so I missed a lot of games, but I feel fit, and off the back of today, disappointed for the team more than anything.”

Madders went on to talk about how a new-look system, with Pape Mater Sarr pushed forward in a ‘false 9’ role, asked questions of a team that came into the game with 18 wins in 21, and seven on the trot as they chase a fourth-successive title.

“There were spaces, pockets out there and I felt we were getting success with the system, and we could have won the game, which is frustrating,” he said.

“We had some big moments, even when we were down in the game. Sonny’s was probably the best of our chances, but what a fantastic save by the keeper who, to be fair, has come on as sub and produced a couple of good saves, to be fair, one with Deki as well, so credit to him, it’s not easy to come off the bench like that and produce those saves when you are cold.”