James Maddison can handle the Championship hard men.

The England Under-21 midfielder has been the stand out performer for Norwich City this season but his soaring reputation is earning him special attention from league rivals.

Maddison has come in for some rough treatment in recent weeks and accepts he is going to be singled out for treatment, given his key role in Daniel Farke’s side.

“Let’s be honest a 30-year-old Championship midfielder is not going to like a 20-year-old midfielder looking like I am trying to take the mickey out of them,” he said. “I am not, obviously, but it might feel like that.

“With the resources that clubs have now you can do all the homework you need on the opposition. They know what type of player I am now and maybe my name is starting to get about. They know what I am trying to do and will try everything they can to stop me.

“As long as I don’t lose my head, which I never will, and the referee does his job properly I have no problem with that. If it isn’t done fairly you would have a word with the referee. Other than that you have to take the treatment, get up, when I can and keep going.

“It is something I have had for my whole career since I came into the professional game. I am the type of player who likes to have a lot of touches, draw players in.”

MORE: Have your say on our Pinkun forumMaddison is thriving on the pressure to perform to help haul the Canaries out of a winless run ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

“It is hard to judge your own performances over the team when you have not won in the last four.

“I have been quite happy with how I am playing,” he said. “I feel to be honest I have another gear to go up in terms of my performances and end product. I have a lot more to give.

“I think if you want to be a top player you have to thrive on that pressure and expectation.

“The fans have been brilliant with me. This is a sticky patch but it could take just one result to turn things around. We have the quality to do it.

“Especially on the road our form has been very good. We are definitely capable of getting three points at Nottingham Forest.

“It felt like a defeat against Barnsley. We came in on Sunday and it left a bad taste in the mouth. When you go in front and then concede so early in the second half the way we did is never nice. We have to put that behind us now. (Nottingham) Forest have a decent side. I know a couple of their players from the England set up.”

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