When Peterborough United take to the Kenilworth Road pitch on Tuesday evening, ready for battle against Luton Town, they will no doubt be looking towards Marcus Maddison to provide the the creative spark.
You just have to take a quick scroll down the midfielder's Twitter feed to get an idea of his value to the Posh. Twenty assists in League One over the calendar year, his eye for a pass and his set-piece expertise are a big reason why the club are among the most prolific goalscorers in the EFL.
Maddison has a knack for finding the net, too. With nine goals already this term, including a truly special strike to claim October's Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month award, he's a vital cog in a team which are still competing on three fronts in the early stages of 2018.
The goal that ended the @shrewsweb streak. đą@MarcusMaddison7, that was special! The @theposhofficial man claims Goal of the Weekend. #GOTW pic.twitter.com/GfaO2s4NsF
â Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) October 30, 2017
Peterborough boss Grant McCann said back in August that the competition was one that the club wanted to win, and his side are going the right way about it. Maddison has featured in three of the four games so far, all of which they have won by two goals to nil. The other finished one apiece, against Northampton Town.
Scoring two and playing a part in three of the other four scored while on the pitch, he also earned a nomination for the Checkatrade Trophy Player of the Round when seeing off Southend United in the previous stage, and he's keen to continue that form against the League Two-leading Hatters.
âWe've got to take it seriously as we can, and progress as far as we can,â said Maddison. âOnce you get through the group stage, you're only a few games away from the Final.
âLuton are a big team in League Two. Coming up from the National League a couple of years ago, they've built on that and they're performing very well at the minute.
âWith it being two high-scoring teams, youâd think there would be lots of goals, but weâll take it however it comes and play what game needs to be played.â
Round Three success is something that Peterborough have enjoyed as recently as Saturday afternoon. Travelling to Aston Villa in the FA Cup, Maddison laid on another two goals in a memorable 3-1 win, booking a Round Four tie with either Fleetwood Town or Premier League Leicester City.
That display at Villa Park wouldn't have surprised many; the Posh are a side in form. Recent results have moved them within just two points and three places of Sky Bet League One's top six.
With the likes of EFL top scorer Jack Marriott among the ranks, with whom Maddison has built up an almost telepathic relationship on the field, Peterborough believe they can beat anyone with their brand of attacking football.
âWe played Chelsea last season, but defeat takes the shine off of it,â continued the former Newcastle United trainee. âAs a footballer you always want to win, so to be victorious at a big team was enjoyable. We approached the game right way, we outplayed them and got our just rewards.
âThe gaffer wants us to play and outscore teams. We donât want to be winning games 1-0, weâd rather score goals and entertain. Iâm in a good team and Iâm with players who are enjoying playing with me as well. Theyâre making runs, giving me the ball and weâre all complimenting each other.
âWe're in a good position in the league but there are a lot of good teams vying for those Play-Off places, and itâs all about consistency at this stage of the season. Weâre in good form and weâve got to continue that now.â