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Over the years we have seen young talented players being introduced to first team action at Leicester. We have seen several youngsters been given opportunities and a chance of progress. Reaching the position of a first team player at Leicester is challenging. Coming up and getting in through the academy is a difficult affair.
This season, we have seen Luke Thomas fighting his way back into the first team. He had a bit of a fringe role under Brendan Rodgers. Later to be loaned out and overlooked by other managers, before returning under Ruud, this season.
Jake Evans and Jeremy Monga are two young players on the bench. They have been given their first team debuts, coming on as subs.
Ben Nelson, Sammy Braybrooke, and Will Alves are the players to call on next season. Additionally, the team can rely on two youngsters, Jake Evans and Jeremy Monga. There of course also other players who can come through, depending on which positions they are playing.
Going back, you have a number of players who were set for greatness. They forced themselves into the team because they were better than whom they competed with. Good managers recognize the type of talent the players possess. These players have also been capped for England and youth levels.
Playing at England youth level doesn’t guarantee a place in the first team at Leicester. However, being spotted at a young age will definitely help you progress. To be spotted to play at international youth level is of course positive. However, you are far from your goal without doing the hard work to reach the next level.
An immaculate free-kick from Sammy Braybrooke with our #LCFCU21s ⚽ pic.twitter.com/f5d2V4ToU2
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 29, 2025
Leicester legend Emile Heskey made his debut for Leicester in 1995, at the age of 17. This was in a season Leicester were relegated. He established himself in the team the next season, scoring 7 goals in 30 league appearances. He was well build and equipped to take that step straight on. At the time, he was an England youth international. He progressed to become one of the best players in England. He ended his career with 62 full caps. He stood out, took his place as the team progressed with him fast becoming a pivotal player.
In modern time, Harvey Barnes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Ben Chilwell stand out as the three to mention. They are all became pivotal players. However, unlike Emile Heskey, they had some issues along the way. Barnes and Dewsbury-Hall being part of teams in decline, being relegated. Chilwell having a number of games under especially Claude Puel that made us all believe this was a dead project. But he eventually managed to bring his appearance to a great level attracting Chelsea to pay £45million for his services.
Peter Shilton and Steve Whitworth are two from the old school. They were nurtured from youth levels to become England internationals while on the books at the club. At the age of 19, Shilton found himself in a relegation situation. He made the best out of it and later became the most expensive goalkeeper ever when Stoke paid £325.000 for services in 1974. He was also capped 125 times for England, and always rated highly in the world of goalkeepers.
Jock Wallace was probably the most eager manager ever to bring the youth on. When he took charge, he demolished “The Bloomfield Boys” over a season. He got rid of everyone in the older party except Mark Wallington. Mark Wallington became important in this era also.
We will see how this progress but it is in real very simple. First the youth need to find their place and space being given to actually be able to bring them on. This season, Steve Cooper decided to bring in experienced fringe players on long term deals. He blocked the homegrown players instead of turning to players such as Ben Nelson, Sammy Braybrooke and Will Alves.
Steve Cooper is a clever man when it comes to youth players. He has been working with that part of football for a very long time. He has achieved some fantastic results to prove this point. Maybe he thought it was too early for the trio to be called on during the promotion season. It would not be logical for them to do it in the Premier League then.
This trio was out on loan at Oxford, Dundee and Cardiff this season. Nelson came through it with a good record, playing 17 games, 5 wins, 6 draws and 6 defeats. Braybrooke never really managed to convince anyone he was capable of playing in the Scottish top flight. He started only two of his seven games and was withdrawn in both. He is now 21 years old. If he does not succeed at Leicester this season, we will not see him at here moving forward. So hopes are that he will get a look in next season.
Will Alves is also a player that must force his way into the first team this season. There are other youngsters at the club knocking on the first team door. He also must step up heavily. Michael Golding is one that can be a hidden diamond. Ruud van Nistelrooy noticed him since arriving and gave Golding his Premier League debut.
You need luck and to take the opportunity, when it comes around. You need to step up and contribute and being part of a winning journey, that will always help.
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