The latest news from inside Leicester City, including their search for a new loans manager, Louis Page’s England recognition, injury returns, transfer rumours, and more
City began advertising last month for a new staff member to assess and mentor their current loanees and to help find opportunities for future starlets making their way in the game. But no word was given on Huth’s future.
While City are still to confirm the title-winning defender’s departure, it is understood he has indeed left the club after two years in the role. For the incoming recruit, it will be an important job, with manager Steve Cooper particularly keen to get youngsters out on loan for experience in senior football.
City have 10 players away on loan and Cooper has been keeping tabs on them himself. He had been watching centre-back Ben Nelson, on loan at Championship side Oxford, especially closely until his recent injury, with Cooper a spectator at the Kassam Stadium on the night the 20-year-old tore tendons in his thigh. Surgery could rule him out for four months.
It’s been a while since City had a player in the senior England squad, but they continue to have players dotted around the nation’s youth teams. And this week, another of their starlets got his first caps.
Louis Page played twice for England’s Under-17s in their double-header with Belgium. The Young Lions drew the first outing 1-1 before losing on penalties, and then were defeated 2-1 in the second fixture.
The England appearances mark another step in Page’s development, with the central midfielder another one to watch. He was part of the Under-16s team that helped City win the Premier League Cup last season, alongside the likes of Jake Evans and Jeremy Monga, in what looks like a potential golden generation. He has joined the attacking duo in making the step up to the Under-21s this season, where he has made six appearances
Page only turned 16 at the end of last month and so has plenty of development to go, but he’s on the right track. He looks to be an all-rounder of the centre of the park, able to intercept passes and get stuck in, but also carry the ball forward with his rangy stride and pick out team-mates.
Marcal back in training
Of City’s 10 players out on loan, Wanya Marcal is the only one yet to feature, the winger picking up an injury before he managed an appearance at Dutch second-tier side De Graafschap. He returned to City for treatment but seems to be making good progress and was pictured in training last week.
That brings hope that he will get the chance to head back out to the Netherlands soon. If he does, he will join a promotion battle, with De Graafschap third in the Eerste Divisie table, one point outside the automatic promotion spots and three points off the top.
The January transfer window is just around the corner and a rumour from the summer has reared its head again, with more reports suggesting City will look at Nantes’ Egyptian striker Mostafa Mohamed. That supposed interest first emerged at the end of the summer, but LeicestershireLive were told there was nothing in it, with City eventually bringing in Odsonne Edouard on loan from Crystal Palace.
There’s nothing to suggest the club’s stance has changed. They have plenty of strikers to choose from in Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, Edouard and Jordan Ayew, while Mohamed’s record of one goal in 10 Ligue 1 appearances this season hardly suggests he’s worth breaking the bank for.
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