Mark Robins: "James Maddison is right up there as one of the best and, if not, the best"

Mark Robins has been speaking about James Maddison ahead of our Carabao Cup tie against his Coventry City side this evening (8pm UK).

'Madders' came through the Sky Blues Academy and made his professional debut for the club in this competition back in August. 2014, in a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City.

He went on to feature 42 times for the club in all competitions, scoring his first goal in October that year against Oldham. He recorded 10 goal involvements in that time, before joining Norwich City for the 2016/17 campaign.

Sky Blues boss Robins - who took charge of his second spell with the club almost a year after James left the Coventry Building Society Arena - was full in his praise for the midfielder when he spoke to ccfc.co.uk on Tuesday.

“There’s been some brilliant players come through the Academy and James Maddison is right up there as one of the best and, if not, the best, he said. "Where he is now with his career, his personality is infectious and he loves playing football, he’s a top player.

"He’s a great technician and he can score goals and he’s making appearances for England now and hopefully he can make more in the future.

"When he was coming through the ranks here, latterly with Stephen Pressley and Tony Mowbray, everyone recognised the quality we had.

"Whether he starts tomorrow night remains to be seen. The type of players Tottenham have got, they are good all over the pitch, regardless of who plays.”