The City youngster has impressed for the Under-21s this season and hopes to continue to play as many games as possible for Coventry City...
Coventry City youngster James Maddison has expressed his eagerness to play as many games as possible in order to “continue to learn and develop.”
The 17-year-old was involved off the bench against Leyton Orient on Saturday, and played the full 90 minutes in the Under-21’s 2-1 defeat to Bristol City on Monday.
Maddison has featured in seven first-team games this season but is eager to continue to impress at all levels, whether that be for the Under-18’s or Under-21’s.
“At a club like Coventry City, we don’t have the biggest squad in the world and the first-team squad is very young too,” Maddison said
“Right through from the Under-18's to the first team, lots of players have to play above their age level, and it's a great experience.
“I just want to play as many games as possible; obviously I'm still only 17-years-old so playing in the first-team has sort of come ahead of schedule for me. But, I just want to play games and show everyone what I'm all about, so if that means playing for the Under-21's or Under-18's I am more than happy to do that to continue to learn and develop.”
Maddison scored City’s goal in their Under-21’s defeat to Bristol City, in a side that featured six Under-18’s players including Dion Kelly-Evans, George Thomas and Cian Harries.
The City starlet is adamant that the young Sky Blues should have taken something from the game, and believes that the Under-18’s players acquitted themselves well despite the defeat.
Maddison said: “We had six Under-18's on the pitch today and most of them had played on Saturday in the game against Sheffield United. Then they play on the Monday too, so it is game-after-game at the moment, but they coped with it really well and it helps the players to progress too.
“I thought we were much the better team than they were, and without showing disrespect we should've beaten them, we had the chances in the game. I'm really confident from set-pieces so I always thought I was going to score my penalty, but I’m disappointed it couldn’t help us take anything from the game.
“We deserved something, we had a lot of possession particularly in the second-half, but it was just one of those games where we kept plugging away and just couldn't find that breakthrough.”