James Maddison says he has got to continue to prove to Ange Postecoglou that his strongest Tottenham Hotspur XI is 'much better' with him involved, as he responded to recent omissions with two goals against Manchester City.
Tottenham's season up to the November international break had been one of mixed results. A most recent defeat to previously winless Ipswich Town had left a sour taste heading into two weeks without football.
The chance to bounce back presented itself at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, and in typical Spurs fashion they took that opportunity without hesitation.
Pep Guardiola's men were sent down 4-0 thanks to a James Maddison brace, plus second-half strikes from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson.
The scorer of the opening two goals - coincidentally the birthday boy in Manchester - was interviewed afterwards by Sky Sports as he had been left out of Postecoglou's starting line-up for previous league fixtures against Aston Villa and Ipswich.
"I've been alright. I'm never happy with not playing," the 28-year-old admitted, before explaining: "The gaffer took me out for a tactical reason because he wanted [Pape] Sarr and [Dejan] Kulusevski - two really fit lads who can really go and press for 90 minutes - for a couple of games."
Maddison will be hoping to keep his place in the team moving forwards now, and certainly has shown the mentality required to do so with the rest of his response.
He continued: "I've got a lot of self belief and if I go through tough spells of having two games out I’m at the age now where I’m able to go and show you that this team is much better with me in it.
"That is the mindset - not in an arrogant, big-headed way - just the mindset of myself and that self belief. That’s the only way you get out of them little ruts.
"I've actually been really happy with my form this season, been a couple games when I haven’t maybe been at the level, but I watch all the games back and I know when I’m not playing at the level.
"There’s been a couple which in football, it happens, but I’m really happy and proud I bounced back, back in today for a big game, really showed my leadership and the manager will be happy with that so I am."
When Son Heung-min had exited the field he had taken up the captain's armband until being substituted himself. Focusing on the whole team, Maddison's rallying cry was: "That’s the real Spurs today. That’s the one that we train towards, that’s the one we worked towards.
"That 90 minutes there is what we want Spurs to be and what we have got to strive to be there more consistently."