A precocious Leicester City 15 year-old will break a Premier League record if Ruud van Nistelrooy chooses to hand him his debut. And that scenario could potentially be on the cards considering the Dutchman's modus operandi. Experts and journalists have given notice to fans on this emerging Foxes starlet. This one could go down in history!
If the highly rated teenager in question actually features for the King Power club in the next short while - he'll be the most famous youngster in the English top flight. Arsenal's up-and-comer Ethan Nwaneri will no longer hold that prestigious accolade. So, who is this young City candidate who is advanced beyond his years? And will van Nistelrooy put his LCFC faith and trust in him? Let's get to it!
Nwaneri's first Premier League game came as a surprise to football supporters around the world. But Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and the more in the know fan base members were expectant of the teen. The premature-seeming outing was versus Brentford back in 2022.
At the time Nwaneri, who was aged just 15, received two ultra-impressive titles then and there. He remains the youngest ever Gunner. Not to mention being the youngest player to compete in the apex of England's footballing pyramid. An exceptional achievement.
But let's hear about the lad who might perhaps shatter the Nwaneri honour. And the young Fox may do so by just less than one month! By my calculations, there is a 26-day gap between the two. The Enfield-born man's exact age vs the Bees was 15 years and 181 days. Whereas at the time of writing, Jeremy Monga is 15 and 155 days old.
The plugged-in among the Blue Army have heard rumblings and rumours about Monga for a little while now. Not that long, but enough time for word to spread. Leicester may have someone with extraordinary ability on their hands; an athlete who has no ceiling.
Interesting quotes from Van Nistelrooy today, who was keen to discuss some of the youngsters at the club.
Jeremy Monga, Henry Cartwright and ‘young JJ’ Jayden Joseph have all been training with the squad.
Cartwright was mentioned a couple of times as a midfield option… https://t.co/ormc13kuG0
— Jack Rafferty (@JackRaff) December 12, 2024
Monga has been described by an LCFC-specialist writer as "the most exciting young player in City's academy". Wow. What a write up. The former is currently learning his trade as a left winger in the east Midlands; he is English.
Though how likely is Monga to be involved in the EPL, even if only for a minute or two like the youthful AFC baller? Well, Ex-Leicester manager Steve Cooper had the player training with the senior roster.
Jeremy Monga’s goal+assist vs Aston Villa U21 last night 💎 https://t.co/ioThLt0M5d pic.twitter.com/PQP2gYW3wC
— The Next Wave (@_TheNextWave_) November 2, 2024
The 15-year-old was invited along for the Carabao Cup tie vs Manchester United too. Although he wasn't in the matchday squad. Furthermore, what's being said of van Nistelrooy also lends hope to a prospective run out for Monga:
"Van Nistelrooy's use of the academy in his first week bodes well that the youth ranks will be a prominent source of first-team players for City on his watch. His background suggests it will be the case too.
The Dutchman spent nine years working his way up PSV’s academy, from the under-17s, through the under-19s, to the under-21s. When he became the club’s senior manager, he promoted two of his under-21s, with winger Johan Bakayoko and attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari immediately becoming prominent first-team players.
Speaking last week, van Nistelrooy said: 'I see many under-21s and under-18s and we’ve even had an under-16 player in this week’s training group, Jeremy. We see many and I like that, that we get to see the talents of the under-21s and under-18s.'"
- Leicester Mercury