Noni Madueke will not change his upbeat demeanour and attitude even if he is dropped by Thomas Tuchel during the World Cup, according to his former England youth coach Ian Foster. The Arsenal star has started England's opening two group games of the tournament, helping his side secure four points.
Madueke's Role Under Scrutiny
Against Ghana on Tuesday night, Madueke was unable to threaten as much as he did against Croatia, and Bukayo Saka again replaced him on the wing. Saka has been managing an Achilles injury that dogged the end of his season with the Gunners. However, with Saka nearing a return to full fitness, some believe he will soon get the nod over Madueke from Tuchel to start.
Despite both battling for the same position for club and country, Saka and Madueke are close friends off the pitch. Saka once admitted: "I don't know how it works, but it does."
Goldfish Memory and Attitude
Staff have reportedly said that Madueke has a 'goldfish memory' and the capability of immediately shrugging off a mistake and 'going again'. The Daily Mail also claims that he has been tasked with stretching defences for the majority of the game before letting his Arsenal teammate do the rest.
Ian Foster, Madueke's former England youth coach, told the Daily Mail: "Noni speaks well, speaks honestly. I’d always try to create challenging conversations which will set them up. He’ll be brave in those meetings. You’ll challenge them tactically, but to speak freely and handle those types of challenges is different. You can see the effect he has on his teammates. When you’re going away for five weeks, living in each other’s pockets, it can be stressful. Some haven’t been selected in the past because of that. His attitude and behaviours will not change if he starts or finishes or isn’t involved."
Tuchel on Saka's Fitness
Addressing Saka’s fitness following Tuesday’s game, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel said: "He seems to be more and more ready, and will hopefully push, and then we will see what is coming. He’s getting there, he has more and more training sessions, so he needs to have more sessions now, two sessions, to be ready for Panama. But Noni tried everything and he did well as well, so it’s not only about Bukayo, but it’s good when he’s back. Today he got some minutes under his belt. Hopefully there is no reaction and he is good to go."
Before the German added: "We’re in a good place, still. It was difficult. They did it well and I knew it before that we play in a difficult group."
