James Maddison says there’s ‘nothing wrong with a bit of needle’ after darts celebration spat with Neal Maupay

James Maddison has admitted there is ‘nothing wrong with a bit of needle’ after his darts celebration spat with Brentford‘s Neal Maupay.

The former Leicester attacker looked incensed after Maupay copied his signature celebration when he scored the first goal of the match between Tottenham and Brentford.

After he and Ivan Toney poked fun at Maddison, Maupay and the Spurs star could be seen grabbing each other’s necks in a fiery exchange.

Now, after the pair exchanged Instagram posts taking further digs at each other, Maddison has spoken again about the incident.

Ahead of kick-off against Everton, the 27-year-old said: ‘There’s nothing wrong bit needle. There’s probably not as much of that in the game as there used to be.’

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The England international also teased a potential link up with teenage darts sensation Luke Littler.

Asked what he thought was harder – hitting a nine-darter or scoring a 25-yard free kick against Liverpool’s Alisson – Maddison replied: ‘I haven’t seen Luke whip one. I’ll have to ask him. Maybe we’ll sort that one out.’

Maddison, when asked what he told Maupay on TNT Sports, said: ‘I just said to him he probably hasn’t scored enough goals of his own in the last few years to have his own celebration so he had to copy mine.

‘Short story, but it ended well for us anyway.’

Neal Maupay (right) and Ivan Toney mocked James Maddison’s dart throw celebration after the former opened the scoring during Brentford’s 3-2 defeat at Tottenham

Maupay and Maddison had an awkward exchange after the former mocked the latter’s celebration

Spurs will be looking to close in on the top four with a win over Sean Dyche’s Everton today.

Ange Postecoglou’s side leap-frogged Aston Villa earlier in the week and will have good opportunity against a struggling Everton.