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Maddison will be too much for Diame to handle

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Image for Maddison will be too much for Diame to handle

OPINION

Newcastle United midfielder Mohamed Diame hasn’t had the best start to his 2018/19 campaign and it will only get worst for him when his side take on Leicester City at St James Park on Saturday.

The 31-year-old, who earns £45,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac), has played six times this season and has looked well below the standard he set himself in the second half of the 2017/18 campaign.

Diame from the start of 2018 looked like the midfield enforcer Rafa Benitez had been dreaming of however soon as the first ball was kicked this season, the Magpies veteran has looked like giving his manager a headache not sweet dreams.

The 31-year-old has constantly been bypassed in midfield and looks unable to win the battle for the ball in the middle of park and that has caused his side to suffer some disappointing results.

While Diame did submit an improved performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday, at least compared to his other recent outings, he will already be sweating over the prospect of facing Leicester City attacking midfielder James Maddison in his next fixture.

The 5ft 8in tall creative maestro (Source: Transfermarkt) has been in fantastic form this season in order to make a fast start to life at the King Power Stadium as well as make several in the Premier League sit up and notice his talents.

The 21-year-old has scored three goals, while assisting one, and has utilised his speed as well as tricky footwork to make his opponent’s attempt to stop him excelling in games be in vain.

Given Maddison’ strengths are his ability to run past players then it’s hard to Diame not regularly eating the promising attacker’s dust when their two sides meet.

Benitez is likely to keep the 31-year-old in his team for the upcoming clash as he has stuck with him so far this season and his display against Palace was arguably his best yet.

Maddison will be too much to handle no matter what Diame does and will cause the Magpies midfielder’s nightmare even if there’s a positive stat to suggest the veteran has a chance of stopping on Sunday.

Diame has made the second most tackles in the Premier League this season, 23 (Source: official site), so is clearly getting in the right position to submit challenge despite his performances making him look like he’s below par.

However Diame is yet to be tasked with handling such an in-form, creative, speedster like Maddison this season and that means despite this positive stat the Foxes’ promising starlet will still have a field day against the 31-year-old.

So Diame should already be sweating over the prospect of facing the playmaker in his next outing.

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