Noni Madueke has revealed that he plans to ‘implement parts of Bukayo Saka’s game into his own’. The Chelsea winger has become a staple in the England set-up since Lee Carsley replaced Gareth Southgate in the dugout at Wembley Stadium this summer.
He was first named in the Three Lions squad after an impressive start to the season for the Blues. Madueke readily turned heads when he scored a brilliant hat-trick inside a quarter of an hour during Chelsea’s a 6-2 win over Wolves at Molineux.
The 22-year-old, who had previously worked with Carsley in the Under-21s, was called up to the first-team by the interim England manager. Madueke was an unused substitute against Ireland before making his senior international debut a few days later at Wembley Stadium.
The Chelsea ace replaced Saka on the right and, shortly after coming on, teed up Harry Kane to double the Three Lions’ lead over Finland. Madueke has since remained in the England set-up ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s arrival in the new year.
While the former Tottenham academy prospect has impressed under Carsley, the German could make wholesale changes. So, in an effort to keep his place in Enzo Maresca’s side and impress Tuchel, Madueke plans to learn from Saka.
In an interview with Mail Online, he was quizzed on his ‘rivalry’ with the Arsenal talisman for a place in England’s line-up. Madueke said: “I don’t look at Bukayo like competition.
“I look at Bukayo as a teammate who plays for England”I know his quality and he’s a player that I look at to try and implement parts of his game into mine. I don’t look at him like; ‘I am coming for you’. The manager will make his decision – and I’m happy to be part of this team – and to start to make a difference for England this early on in my career is great.
“I feel like I did my job. I created the first goal and I was a threat pretty much until I came off. That is what I try to bring every time I step on the pitch.”
Last month, Maresca heaped praise on Madueke for the progress he’s been making, both on and off the ball. The Chelsea boss said: “It’s not only about Cole [Palmer], it’s about all the attacking players we have.
“You see how Noni in this moment is pressing. He’s pressing forward, he’s running back and he’s doing very good with us, and not only because he’s scoring goals. It’s something we need from all the rest, players like Joao [Felix], Christo [Nkunku], Misha [Mudryk], Jadon [Sancho], these kind of players.”
