Brendan Rodgers responds to Newcastle United transfer question about James Maddison

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers fielded a question on James Maddison’s future after he missed his side’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United.

The 26-year-old, who was the subject of two failed bids from the Magpies in the summer, watched on from the King Power Stadium stands due to a knee injury.

Rodgers was asked during his post-match press conference if Maddison’s injury was good timing because the January transfer window opens next week.

“I want him available to help us,” Rodgers said. “We miss his quality and creativity in the team. That’s my only thinking, I want him available all the time.

“When you have good players, they are always going to be linked with other clubs. I’m always very relaxed on that. I just need him available and ready to play for us.”

Maddison was helpless and Newcastle surged to a 3-0 lead inside the opening half-hour. Chris Wood scored a penalty after a three minutes before Miguel Almiron and Joelinton extended the lead.

Indeed, that’s how the scoreline ended with Eddie Howe’s side moving up to second in the Premier League table.

“Clearly, our start to the game was no-where near what we would want or expect,” Rodgers said. “The best team won, Newcastle were much better than us.

“We kept going. We tried to change it at half-time by putting an extra player in midfield and extra striker up front. It gave us a little bit of control but we lacked quality in the final third of the pitch.

“Someone said to me before I am 300 games as a manager here and one of the things I’ve learned in that period is there is clearly in the Premier League but one thing you need is the right attitude mentally and commitment, especially at the start of games.

“For some reason, ours wasn’t there. Newcastle are playing with confidence and have good players, it gave them a leg up in the first couple of minutes which can be very difficult.”