Leicester Invest in Youth

Article by e-Leicester City's Daniel Stones

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After finishing 6th in the Premier League U21’s, can Leicester City fans look forward to seeing the young foxes make it to the first team?

They’ve beaten the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Newcastle United U21’s this season so they can’t be that bad. Players such as Michael Cain, Joe Dodoo & Tom Hopper look like the stand out players in the U21 Development Squad to have a chance at first team level, so will they be given the chance to prove themselves?

In the premiership it’s going to be a tough ask but under Nigel Pearson the chances are more a yes than no, as we’ve seen in recent seasons under his tenure the likes of Liam Moore, Jeff Schlupp & Andy King all making the step up to first team action and proving to be more than good players. Liam Moore has England U21 recognition, Jeff Schlupp has two caps to his name playing for Ghana, whilst also narrowly missing out on the 2014 world cup squad and Andy King, a Wales international, capped 25 times by his country and making two hundred and seventy-six appearances in a City shirt.

It shows Leicester has talent in their youth teams and given the chance, they can make the grade. City have already made two young signings in the form of Jack Barmby the son of former England international Nick Barmby from Manchester United and Kieran Kennedy from Manchester City. Both are considered good prospects for the future.

City’s academy has already been awarded category one status as it continues to build a long lasting legacy developing the very best home grown players for the first team. It would be great to see Leicester’s youth system becoming an enterprise like Barcelona or Ajax where their youth players have shown they can become world class domestic and international players. Here’s to hoping.

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