2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Jordan Blackwell)
There have been two debutants in the past two games for Leicester City and, judging by the way Ruud van Nistelrooy is speaking, there could be more over the final six matches of the Premier League season. The City boss, despite the uncertainty over his own future, is looking to next season and turning his attention to the academy, believing the best chance of future success is with homegrown players forming the foundations of the squad. Fans will want to see more of Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans over the next six games, but there will be others who will hope to get their first Premier League outing too.
Here’s a look at the candidates. Bade Aluko On the bench against Brighton, Aluko has been training regularly alongside City’s seniors for a few weeks. A full-back who can play on both sides, the 18-year-old has quickly risen to prominence, as he was still mostly with the Under-18s until October of this season.
He looks to be a good ball carrier and his height means he wouldn’t be out of place physically in the top flight. Jayden Joseph Right-back Joseph has been around the first team for practically the whole season, travelling with the squad to Newcastle in December. He’s been a consistent presence and a consistent performer for the Under-21s, only missing their opening Premier League 2 game of the season, and he’s full of attacking intent, sometimes playing further forward on the wing.
Sammy Braybrooke He’s already got his City debut under his belt, but Braybrooke has not yet made his Premier League bow. Spotted in training ahead of Liverpool, the central midfielder has long been in the conversations about City’s best prospects, such is his passing range, his ability to control matches and his bursts forward. A loan to Dundee didn’t go as well as was hoped, but he’s been playing regularly for the Under-21s since his recall and is getting back to where he was prior to his year out with an ACL tear.
Henry Cartwright Also involved in training ahead of this weekend’s game is Braybrooke’s partner at the base of the midfielder, Cartwright. On the bench at Newcastle, Cartwright, like Braybrooke, grew up locally and has been with the academy since he was a kid. He seems to have stepped up a level this season, captaining the Under-21s and showing his readiness for senior action with his tough-tackling, committed displays, and some excellent pinpoint passes out to the wings.
Michael Golding The £5m man still hasn’t featured for City with injuries preventing the 18-year-old from making an impact in his maiden season at the club. But he looks to have been much more prominent in training of late, and there may be hope of seeing glimpses of the attacking midfielder, one who was rated very highly at Chelsea before his summer switch..
