Leicester’s loan army: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a future Fox?
By Tobias Moore
How are Leicester City using the loan system this season to develop young talent, and can the likes of Kiernan Dewsury-Hall have a future at the King Power?
Leicester City’s growth into a bonafide Premier League competitor has ushered a meteoric development in facilities and infrastructure. 2013 witnessed the attainment of ‘Category One’ status per the FA’s Elite Player Performance Plan. Club officials expressed Category One’s importance to the club’s long-term vision.
"It’s a very exciting development for the Club and the Academy. It will bring the players some excellent and tough challenges, which will be a significant benefit to them as part of their own development, as well as the long-term benefit of the Club. Jon Rudkin via LCFC.com"
The combined legislative impact of Brexit and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations stresses the importance of effective academies and youth development. Recent years have witnessed the rise of Harvey Barnes, Ben Chilwell and Hamza Choudhury. Each undergoing loans as an important part of their development.
Luke Thomas remains something of an anomaly. An unorthodox entry in the post-lockdown summer fixtures, the 19-year-old found himself playing the role of injured Chilwell and Christian Fuchs. Circumventing Championship or League One football, the Syston local is a rough diamond slowly smoothing with gradual exposure to first-team football.
2020/21 sees Leicester City’s continued use of the loan system. With nine members of the under-23 squad plying their trade away from the new Seagrave training base. FoL analyses the development of three loanees this season.