James Maddison is unlikely to face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a knee problem. The Leicester City midfielder, who has been heavily linked with a move to Tyneside, is yet to feature for his club since returning from the World Cup with England.
Maddison was forced to watch on from the stands as Newcastle delivered a Boxing Day beating to Leicester at the King Power Stadium and the 26-year-old looks set to take in the match from the stands once more after Brendan Rodgers played down his chances of a midweek return at St James' Park.
Asked if Maddison will be available against the Magpies, Rodgers said: “I don’t think so. It’s just day-by-day with James. Listen, we may go in tomorrow and it may be different but we’ll see.”
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Ahead of Leicester's FA Cup third round win against Gillingham, Maddison posted a picture of himself alongside fellow injury absentee James Justin at the club's training ground and wrote on Twitter: "Working hard to be back fit very soon! Good luck today boys, we’re supporting from Seagrave."
Newcastle will undoubtedly be buoyed by Maddison's absence as they look to bounce back from their FA Cup upset on Saturday evening. Eddie Howe's side bowed out oft the competition at the third round once again after suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday.
All eyes now turn to the Leicester clash, with Howe vowing to go full strength for the quarter-final. "We’ll be going full strength to win the match. Allan, I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see. Callum, I expect to be back," he said over the weekend.
"Fingers crossed, Nick Pope and Fabian Schar will also be back. The fact it’s earlier in the season you have a better chance of playing your stronger team."
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