'He's ridiculous' - James Maddison praises 'great lad' Jude Bellingham as Tottenham midfielder reveals Real Madrid sensation is 'obsessed with the game'

The Tottenham star was talking to Stephen Hendry on the snooker world champion's Cue Tips series - he is a huge fan of the sport - and was effusive when talk came round to England's 20-year-old midfield phenomenon.

Asked by Hendry if there was much competition for his position in the England set-up, Maddison laughed: "No, not much. Just Bellingham!"

"He's ridiculous. So good. He's a great lad as well, Jude. I absolutely love him. For such a young kid, his mentality is like that of a 30-year-old. He loves footy, you know when you just know someone loves football. That's why me and him get on so well. He's just obsessed with the game and I love that about him."

Maddison has been well placed to observe Bellingham's remarkable rise. Established as a key player for Real Madrid, the 20-year-old has already featured at two major tournaments for England and is set to be the bedrock of their European Championship challenge this summer in Germany.

The former Leicester man will continue his quest for full fitness after the injury that kept him on the sidelines for almost three months, when Spurs take on Brighton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.