I can send it like Beckham

MADDISON EXPLAINS HOW HE'S BECOME A NEW SET-PIECE KING

- MIKE WALTERS

JAMES MADDISON says he is following David Beckham's template to become king of set-pieces.

The England discard crowned Tottenham's brilliant 4-1 win against Aston Villa with a sublime free-kick which had more than a sprinkling of Goldenballs stardust about it.

The Spurs playmaker, who was confined to the bench for 82 minutes on Sunday, made his presence felt by threading a dead-ball masterpiece through the eye of the needle past static World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

Maddison said: "I used to watch Becks closely. I think last season was the first year I ever had in my whole career when I didn't score a direct free-kick.