When Leicester City’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was loaned out to League One Blackpool in 2020, there wouldn’t have been many observers suggesting he had a future at his hometown club, given his he was only making his senior debut in the third tier at the age of 21. Fast forward two-and-a-half years, and the perception of the Foxes academy product could not be more different as rumours of a new contract emerge.
Four goals in ten games for the Tangerines, including on his debut away at Wycombe, elevated Dewsbury-Hall to a Championship calibre player, and a very successful loan spell at Luton Town the following season. The midfielder drove the Hatters, who had battled relegation the year prior, to an unexpected mid-table finish, the club’s loftiest league position for fifteen years. He wasn’t just a bit part player either, making thirty-nine league appearances and being voted by his teammates as Player of the Season, as well as taking home three other club awards.
On his return to the King Power, it was made clear by manager Brendan Rodgers that Dewsbury-Hall would feature in his plans for the 2021/22 campaign. However, despite fleeting substitute appearances early in the campaign, Dewsbury-Hall had to wait until December to make his maiden Premier League bow from the outset, showing flashes of brilliance against Aston Villa.
Most professionals at the age of 23 without a Premier League appearance may be forgiven for thinking that their time in the big league would never arrive. In fact, most professionals still waiting for their senior debut at the age of 21 may allow their minds to wander elsewhere or draft contingency plans for other industries to explore in the case that football doesn’t work out for them.
Dewsbury-Hall even suffered setbacks from the minute he became a first-team starter: a turnaround defeat at Villa Park before crashing out of the Europa League to an under-strength Napoli side just five days later, despite the No. 22 netting a terrific volley. When an academy graduate comes into the first team fold and produces two good performances as Dewsbury-Hall did, they’re often lauded as the next big thing or a great talent. The team disappointment around December was so strongly felt that the bright spark the midfield man provided was not dwelt on.
But Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is an excellent example of never giving up, and always believing in oneself. And it’s this determined and self-assured attitude that has helped him excel once he finally had the chance to showcase his ability. It was the Napoli game that lit the spark among some observers, opening eyes to just how far the midfielder could go in the game. Not just his stunning volley to level the scores just before half-time, but the way he appeared to carry the team, exhibiting leadership qualities unbefitting of a player with as little experience at the time.
When Jonny Evans halved the arrears in the 26th minute of the clash, the Foxes in the penalty area immediately celebrated with the Northern Irishman or jogged back for the kick-off. One notable exception was Dewsbury-Hall, who, as the ball nestled the back of Alex Meret’s net, darted towards the goal to retrieve it and speed up the restart.
It wasn’t to be that night, and the Foxes slipped into Europe’s third-tier competition, the Europa Conference League. It was in this tournament that Dewsbury-Hall was expected to play most of his football in the second half of the season, but the indelible mark he left on the side with his tirelessness and perseverance meant Brendan Rodgers trusted him to be the engine room of the midfield across all competitions.
Work ethic and determination can only take one so far however, but the ability must be there to cement a regular EPL starting berth. Dewsbury-Hall’s game has advanced rapidly in the five months since becoming a first-team regular, with his positional and technical nous allowing him to receive the ball in tight areas and suddenly emerge in multiple yards of space. Not only that, but his passing ability has become more proficient, both at spraying cross-field balls and linking up well with his left-back and left midfielder.
The rate of progression is bound to plateau at some point, so it’s not feasible to suggest Dewsbury-Hall is going to be a world-beater in two years’ time. However, it’s not unreasonable for him to be touted as a future City captain if his game continues to improve at even half the rate it has since 2020. He’s a fan favourite, and rightly so.
It speaks volumes that a player who came into the first-team fold as late as December was being spoken about in Player of the Season terms, and it’s more than just his technical ability that has won the Foxes faithful over. Of course, the local lad aspect helps, but Dewsbury-Hall’s professional attitude and commitment to the cause will continue to endear him to the club’s supporters for years to come.