It’s safe to say James Maddison has had a profound impact at Tottenham Hotspur since joining the club in the summer. But, his talent doesn’t just happen by chance, he puts in the hours needed on the training ground to improve himself.
Maddison has been a much-needed spark of creativity for Spurs this season, offering up three goals and seven assists in 15 appearances across all competitions (Transfermarkt).
With those kinds of attacking returns, it will come as no surprise to know that Tottenham missed Maddison dearly during his ten-week absence from Ange Postecoglou‘s first-team squad due to injury. But, he is back now and already pulling the strings once more.
Among his many impressive attributes, Maddison possesses a game-changing ability to deliver a brilliant set-piece. Whether he is going for goal himself, or sending in an inch-perfect cross for a teammate, the 27-year-old is someone you can depend on from a deadball situation.
Maddison practices his free-kicks constantly
Speaking to Stephen Hendry as part of his Cue Tips show, Maddison revealed just how much he works on improving his set-piece ability, and why he enjoys working on them so much.
He said: “I’ve always been a set-piece taker… I’ve always loved practising free kicks and deadball situations. A free kick is the only thing I can relate to an individual sport, like golf or snooker. It’s repetition, it’s just you.
“You can never train by yourself and replicate a team sport, but set pieces is the one that you can.”
When asked by Hendry if he is the last one on the training field due to this, Maddison replied in the affirmative.
Spurs Web Opinion
We’ve got a few dangerous set-piece takers now, with Pedro Porro and Heung-min Son also highly capable from a dead ball. But out of them all, I would say you can rely on Maddison to deliver the most.