2018 was a watershed year in the recent history of the England national team. It was, of course, the year in which the Three Lions made an unexpected run all the way to the semi finals of the World Cup, but there was a greater significance to what Gareth Southgate and his players achieved in Russia.

It set the precedent for a new generation of young footballers. In the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling, England boasted a number of players who had been forced to take an unconventional route to the top, but they had got there nonetheless. This was, with good reason, heralded as the start of a new age for the sport in the country.

And yet Southgate’s England team still lacked one crucial element. This was exposed in the semi final defeat to Croatia when Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic picked the Three Lions apart. While England had pace on the break, dangerous crossers of the ball and goalscorers up front, they desperately lacked a creative mind in the number 10 role. 

Cags making me feel like Simba pic.twitter.com/UAt8MEjAg7

— James Maddison (@Madders10) November 10, 2019

Two years later, though, and James Maddison has emerged as the player England so clearly missed that night in Moscow. The 22-year-old has been a key figure for Brendan Rodgers’ excellent Leicester City side this season, scoring four goals and registering two assists in just 11 appearances as the Foxes have surged to second place in the Premier League table.

Maddison is strong in transition, which lends himself to England’s favoured style of play under Southgate, but is also adept at breaking down low defensive blocks, something the national team has struggled to do in recent years, whether that be through the taking of a shot or the release of a pass in behind. 

And yet with Euro 2020 just around the corner, Maddison has still to make his international debut at senior level. That is expected to change this week, with the 22-year-old called up for the qualification double-header against Montenegro and Kosovo, but it’s at this point that Southgate should be finalising his plans for next summer rather than experimenting with the core of his team. 

Of course, Maddison was previously called up by Southgate for the last international break only for the midfielder to be pictured at a casino at the same time England were playing Czech Republic after pulling out through illness, but the Leicester City man should have been inducted into the national team set-up long before then. 

Maddison enjoying great season at #lcfc, is only 22 & doubtless regrets timing of casino visit. Still surprising that Southgate didn’t overlook him & send out a message about need to be completely focused. Southgate usually espouses the All Blacks humility/dedication ethos. #eng

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 7, 2019

Indeed, Southgate could come to regret not installing Maddison as a central pillar of his England team sooner. Barring disaster, these upcoming qualifiers will be the last two competitive games England will play before their opening group fixture at next summer’s European Championships. Maddison might boast the talent to succeed for England, but he still needs time to adapt to a new team and new teammates, time that is now in short supply.

It’s not as if Maddison has only just found form either. He’s been excelling at Premier League level for the best part of 18 months. When you consider some of the players Southgate has called up over the past three years, how the door has been opened for younger players who previously would’ve been overlooked, it’s baffling that Maddison hasn’t had an opportunity before now.

For years, England’s lack of an Andrea Pirlo-type was identified as the biggest reason for their failure on the international stage. Even now, they have nobody in the mould of the Italian pass-master to deploy at the base of their midfield. More recently, though, their most glaring deficiency has been found in the position behind the central striker.

This is still as glaring as it was at the 2018 World Cup. The difference is that Southgate now has a player to address that deficiency. At just 22, Maddison will almost certainly be a big part of England’s future, but it’s somewhat perplexing that he hasn’t already been made a bigger part of their present.