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.
Darnell Johnson of Leicester City
Godson of Emile Heskey, and on the third loan move of his career so far, the 22-year-old joined AFC Wimbledon in January after a fairly uneventful spell at fallen Premier League side Wigan Athletic. Swapping the blue and white stripes of Greater Manchester for south-west London lands the 22-year-old centre-back in familiar yet geographically separate waters as both clubs fight for League One status, currently placed 22nd and 20th respectively.
"I’d like to say I’m old school and new school, so I know how to lock-up shop and be aggressive, win everything in the air, don’t give the forward a yard. But then again, with the new school, I can play out, I’d like to say I can use both of my feet and be versatile. I’ve been playing right-back for my club, as well as a centre-back. I’d like to say I’m quite dynamic. Darnell Johnson via Hibernian FC."
Playing nearly every minute of the last five games, the former under-23’s captain’s fortunes have been mixed in winning two and losing three. His last outing at Gillingham provided his first clean sheet since the start of the season. Should he appear in Wimbledon’s next match against Hull City, it will be his longest run of consistent senior appearances.
Firmly in his early 20s, the loanee has missed the opportunity for early senior exposure. A failed move to Hibernians provided little experience. With younger defensive players of Wesley Fofana’s calibre making the move to the King Power, he will find his path increasingly blocked by outsider talent.
Johnson’s story at Leicester City looks to be reaching its conclusion. His contract ends in the summer, and he has failed to appear in cup competitions. This season has seen the local play the most football of his career so far and shows he is capable of making a steady contribution to a team’s fortunes.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
The stand-out performer from Leicester City’s loan contingent. Questions were raised in January when Rodgers opted to let Dewsbury-Hall remain at Luton Town in light of Dennis Praet’s injury. Recent games including an outing at Cardiff City have exposed certain weaknesses in his game, notably his defensive decision-making in the box. Having the opportunity to improve in a competitive league away from intense scrutiny provides a solid platform for his development.
"I pride myself on good passing ratio – whether that be easy passes and more complex passes. Because it is important as the midfielder in the team to be able to keep the ball and keep it ticking. I want to dictate games because if your midfield is dictating the game it gives you a much better chance of winning. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall via Kevin Harper’s Luton Town Supporters’ Trust podcast."
The 22-year-old is 5-foot-8 inches and left-footed, the latter trait a rarity amongst Leicester City’s current squad. In 24 leagues games so far this season, the diminutive midfielder has provided two goals and three assists – both efforts struck on his favoured foot from outside the area. Starting in an advanced role, Dewsbury-Hall settled into defensive midfield as the season has progressed.
Highlights of the Shepshed-native’s goals may invoke comparisons to Leicester City’s James Maddison. However, Youri Tielemans is a more apt candidate. Forwards players can be analysed per their goals and contributions; identifying the strengths in their defensive and supportive counterparts necessitates data over description.
This season, per 90 minutes Dewsbury-Hall commits 9.38 defensive actions (DAs), 5.15 interceptions (ints) and blocks 0.29 shots. Comparatively, Tielemans has recorded 7.48 DAs, 3.98 ints and 0.23 blocks. Both players are contributing significantly to off-the-ball play, breaking opposition moves, with KDH providing more in such phases.
What Tieleman’s excels in is a higher-standard of passing. Per 90 minutes, KDH averages 43.79 passes, 14.27 forward passing (FP) and 4.69 long passes (LP) with an average distance of 38.02m. Respectively Tielemans commits 59.03 passes, 18.29 (FP) and 6.11 (LP) averaging 39.93m. Both have much room to develop to the long-term benefit of Leicester City.
Admiral Muskwe
The Zimbabwe international has been at Leicester City since 2007, winning Academy Player of the Year and being the under-23’s top scorer last season in the process. Despite being highly considered at the King Power, Muskwe has faced similar developmental issues as his contemporary Johnson, he has only attained 12 senior club appearances to date. Partly stalled by a year-long injury absence, the loanee finds himself at Wycombe Wanderers alongside Josh Knight, another member of the loan contingent.
"I’m an attacking player so I’m a striker but I can also play left-wing, centre, right-wing. I like to be positive, direct, score goals, bring my teammates into the game. Admiral Muskwe via Swindon Town Football Club"
Last season was a disastrously limited spell at former Fox Richie Wellens’ League Two champions Swindon Town; receiving 97 minutes of game time over five scoreless matches. The 22-year-old has had marginally more success this season. Scoring a header on his league debut against Brentford proved to be a consolation effort in a 7-2 battering. Goals are a luxury for the Championship new boys this season, Scott Kashket’s four efforts place him top of the scoring charts while the team remains firmly rooted at the foot of the table.
In 332 minutes of league and cup action, Muskwe has registered one goal and one assist, averaging a goal action every 166 minutes of play. Comparatively, Kashket registers a contribution every 392 minutes. It would be wrong to argue based on these numbers that Muskwe is the more formidable option as his playing time remains too limited to draw a comprehensive conclusion. In recent games, Kashket has found himself confined to the bench with Uche Ikpeazu leading the line and the Leicester City loanee coming on as an impact substitute.
With 15 league matches remaining this season, Wycombe seems willing to chop and change strikers. Muskwe’s cameos could open up an opportunity to become a more regular fixture in the side should he find the net. The ball is firmly in the Zimbabwean’s court. Reports linking fellow Championship striker Ivan Toney to Leicester City and a lack of statements from Rodgers on the loanee striker are indicative of his fate.