---
title: "Newcastle United: James Maddison ‘one of the first names on the team-sheet’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leicester-transfer-news-james-maddison-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-11-09T12:15:39Z"
modified: "2022-11-09T12:15:39Z"
---

# Newcastle United: James Maddison ‘one of the first names on the team-sheet’

**Sky Sports’ northeast reporter [Keith Downie](https://twitter.com/SkySports_Keith) claims that James Maddison would be ‘one of the first names on the team-sheet’ at [Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/).**

### The Lowdown: January target

It has been widely [reported](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/tottenham-transfer-news-maddison-leicester-premier-league/) that Maddison is a target for the St James’ Park outfit in the January transfer window.

The Tyneside club had a formal bid [rejected](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-james-maddison-anthony-gordon-transfer-gossip-news-updates/) in the summer and could look to come back in for the Leicester City attacking midfielder with an increased offer.

### The Latest: Regular starter?

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88080783-newcastle-transfer-news-pif-target-first-names-team-sheet), Downie has claimed that signing for Newcastle could be a ‘good move’ for Maddison, adding that he would be ‘one of the first names on the team-sheet’ under Eddie Howe.

The Sky Sports man said: *“When you look at it, that could be a good move for James Maddison.*

*“It could be something a bit different to the norm and rather than going to a Manchester City, a Liverpool or whoever it may be that’s interested and struggling to get in the team, you’d obviously be one of the first names on the team-sheet at Newcastle.”*

[Newcastle news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/)

### The Verdict: Exciting

The thought that Howe’s team could sign a player in January who might slot straight into their starting XI and improve it immediately is exciting for the Toon Army.

With a [7.41](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/137015/Show/James-Maddison) average rating in the Premier League, Maddison ranks as [third-best](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23/Show/England-Newcastle) compared to the Magpies’ current squad. Only Miguel Almiron at Newcastle has scored more goals ([eight](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23/Show/England-Newcastle)) than the Englishman’s [six](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/137015/Show/James-Maddison) in the top flight so far, while Maddison also has the most assists ([four](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/137015/Show/James-Maddison)).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410504″\]

Taking into consideration that Newcastle are [third](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) in the top flight compared to Leicester being down in [14th](https://www.premierleague.com/tables), the 25-year-old is playing exceptionally well in an otherwise struggling team, and he could thrive in a Magpies side full of confidence.