MADDERS TOLD: USE EUROS PAIN AS YOUR SPUR

Ange says Three Lions snub can motivate his playmaker

- NEIL MCLEMAN

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has urged James Maddison to use his England Euros heartache to relaunch his Tottenham career.

The Spurs playmaker was the star of his side's dazzling start to last season as they topped the table after the first 10 games.

But Maddison suffered an ankle injury in the first defeat to Chelsea in November which ruled him out for two months - and he never recovered his early-season swagger.

Maddison admitted he was "devastated" to miss out on Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad for Germany and now faces a big year for his club.

"The disappointments of missing the Euros, well that's just part of being a footballer," said Postecoglou, ahead of Spurs' season opener tonight away to promoted Leicester.

"You take all the good stuff, but you have setbacks and it's how you react to those. I'm sure he'll want to go out there and get himself back into the international frame and back playing for England.

"That's up to him to find the right way to use that as a motivation.