I joined Leicester to make ‘leaps and bounds in my career’ but Steve Cooper is refusing to pick me

One Leicester City star is likely regretting his summer move after being shunned by manager Steve Cooper.

Leicester City made nine signings during the 2024 summer transfer window and it is fair to say some have fared much better than others.

One Leicester legend thinks Jordan Ayew is ‘so key’ for Steve Cooper’s side after his £8m move from Crystal Palace over the summer.

Elsewhere, after joining on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, Facundo Buonanotte made the top-10 wonderkid power rankings this week.

Some other additions made in the most recent transfer window have fared ok, with Bilal El Khannouss having a pretty mixed start to life in England so far.

However, one new Leicester addition is yet to even see a single minute of action on Cooper’s watch.

 

Steve Cooper yet to give Michael Golding chance at Leicester City

The player in question is central midfielder Michael Golding, who joined Leicester on July 7th, leaving Premier League giants Chelsea.

The 18-year-old was not expected to break into the Blues’ first-team so a move to the Midlands did make sense.

When he joined, as per Leicester’s official website, Golding confirmed he made the move so he could make ‘leaps and bounds in my career’.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to making leaps and bounds in my career here at Leicester and working hard to help the team as much as I can.

“Obviously the history of the Club speaks for itself; there are great players here and I’m looking to soak up as much information as I can from the senior players, to learn from the staff and hopefully have a great season.”

However, the optimism the teenager had when he first joined Leicester may already have faded and he may well already be regretting the move as Cooper is still yet to hand him a single appearance.

Golding has made four U21 appearances but if he wanted to continue playing at youth level, he could have just stayed at Chelsea.

 

When will Steve Cooper give Michael Golding a chance at Leicester City

Golding is a natural central midfielder but has spent the majority of his time with the Foxes’ U21 side operating in the number 10 role.

If that is the position Cooper wants to use him in with the senior side, the former Chelsea gem may be waiting a while before he earns any sort of regular playing time.

The aforementioned Buonanotte has occupied that spot for much of 2024/25 so far and there is no way the Argentine will be dropped given his current form.

However, it is still somewhat baffling that Cooper hasn’t even handed Golding an appearance off the bench or in the Carabao Cup this season.

He was an unused sub against Walsall and didn’t even make the bench versus Manchester United or Tranmere Rovers.

As a result, the midfielder may well start considering his options once more when the winter window opens as his previous comments suggest he wants to start progressing his career and actual play some minutes at senior level.