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Brendan Rodgers launched a staunch defence of midfielder James Maddison following accusations of unprofessionalism during the winter break.

The Leicester City manager backed his playmaker, who was pictured partying in Dubai during his week off, saying the 23-year-old’s critics “portray him as something he’s not”.

Maddison was criticised earlier in the season when he was taken out of the England squad with illness before being pictured watching the Three Lions’ defeat to Czech Republic in a casino.

But Rodgers said the narrative developing around Maddison is not a fair reflection of a “charming, young man”.

“Some people are trying to portray him as something he’s not,” said Rodgers.

“Thankfully, I know the reality, he’s a top-class young professional who focuses on his game and wants to be better.

“I can only judge him on my time here, nearly a year now, he’s been absolutely brilliant for me. And outside of the pitch, he’s been an absolute joy.

“He’s a charming young man, really respectful. He really respects what he has here at Leicester. He’s just a pleasure to work with.

“What people’s narrative is – a lot of the time he can’t control. People want to fit a narrative around him so I don’t worry so much about that. I know the reality of what he is and what he gives.

“It’s unfortunate. We’re supposedly in this great world now where everyone ‘cares’, this wonderful atmosphere where everyone wants to look after you. It’s rubbish because the first thing people do is try to stitch you up. It’s contradictory. It’s unbelievable.

“So there’s something framed around him which he’ll have to live with but that’s someone else’s narrative. This is a 23-year-old boy who is single and who’s been given a week free.

“We try to educate them in many ways but this is something I’m not too bothered about.”

“He’s learning what it takes to get to where he wants to get to and I’m very happy with that way of working. If it’s not, he gets told. He takes on board everything.”

Rodgers added that Maddison’s ability, attitude and style of play actually makes him a role model for kids aspiring to make it as professionals.

“He is a talent,” said the manager. “He creates goals, he scores goals and he’s a real threat for us at set-pieces with world-class deliveries. He’s certainly on the path but there’s still a lot of work to do.

“But I’ve been taken aback by his quality working with him day-to-day here – and his mentality.

“He’s a great boy. If you are a seven or eight-year-old boy watching the game you want to be James Maddison.

“You want to take free-kicks like James Maddison. You want to have that way and that personality to play. You need that.”