Maddison: I feel safe with Ndidi behind me

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Dec 16, 2020. 09:00

Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi has been praised by his Leicester City teammate James Maddison.

The Foxes have rediscovered their winning form in the English Premier League since Ndidi returned from injury.

English playmaker Maddison has been impressed by Ndidi’s tackling and passing abilities.

“We actually won the ball in midfield. Wilfred Ndidi, [it is] really good to have him back, I feel safe when I’m in there with Wilf behind me,” Maddison said on Complete Sports.

“It’s almost like he’s two players, and what Wilf’s improved on a lot, especially since I joined the Club, is his passing ability.

“It’s improved a lot and [he] wins the ball back, and I remember, his first pass being forward to me. [A] forward, along-the-floor, hard pass and that’s something that he’s really improved on.”

Ndidi reportedly had a 94 per cent successful pass rate in the match to ensure Leicester kept a clean sheet in their 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in a league game over the weekend.

The 23-year-old player is widely considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the English Premier League.

“And then we built [on that in] the game. Vards (Jamie Vardy) made a run in behind, came back to me and I remember being one vs. one,” Maddison added.

“[I] shifted it on my right, got it back on my left, and I’m comfortable off my left. “I feel just as confident shooting [with] my left as I do with my right, and it was one of them:

“I knew it was in straight away, so [I’m] really happy.”

Ndidi and Maddison are expected to start for Leicester when they take on Everton in a league game on Wednesday.