Leicester City’s pre-season is nearly upon us as the players prepare for a return to their intense training regime. The pre-season gives Brendan Rodgers a chance to look over both his first team squad and the development players as he plans for the Foxes’ next campaign.
Last season, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made an impression during the summer friendlies, earning him an eventual chance in the first team during 2021/22, and boy did he take it; his impressive performances earning him numerous awards from his teammates and supporters. This year, another exciting youth prospect is aiming to make an impression: George Hirst.
Hirst’s name should be familiar amongst Leicester supporters – not only because he is the son of former England international Paul Hirst – as he made his senior debut with the Foxes at the end of the 2019/20 season, coming off the bench against both Spurs and Manchester United. Not seen as ready for the Premier League yet, Hirst and the club decided that loans would be the best way for him to develop.
Having scored 13 goals in 21 appearances for Leicester in the U23s, Hirst commanded interest from several clubs, eventually making the temporary move to Championship side Rotherham for the 20/21 season. Playing in one of the most competitive and gruelling leagues in world football, Hirst struggled in the Championship, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. He made 32 appearances in all competitions but failed to register a single goal involvement.
Clearly disappointed with his season, Hirst found a new home in League One for the 2021/22 campaign with Portsmouth. Initially, Hirst struggled and only registered two goals in the first half of the season, but in 2022 where Hirst fully excelled, scoring 13 goals. By the end of the season Hirst’s confidence was sky-high and he netted 10 goals in his final 13 starts.
In total, the Sheffield-born striker scored 15 goals and created 3 assists in 40 appearances for Portsmouth. It was exactly the confidence boost that Hirst needed to reignite his career. Speaking to LCFC.com, Hirst was glowing about his time on the south-coast:
"“For me to go to Portsmouth and finish the season strongly and to score that many goals, it was brilliant, not only to prove to myself that I can do it, but to prove to everybody else and I’m good enough to score the goals. It was a real confidence booster. When you’re playing with that sort of confidence, it can only help your development even more.”"
After such a successful spell away, Hirst’s next target is to firmly establish himself at Leicester City. He has been given the perfect platform for this as Brendan Rodgers is set to include him in the first team training ahead of the upcoming pre-season friendlies.
Admiring him from afar, Rodgers was the man to give Hirst his first taste of Premier League football and has been impressed with Hirst’s recent development. Speaking to the press last season, Rodgers had this to say about the 23-year-old:
"“George has done great at Portsmouth and he’s someone I want to have a good look at over the course of pre-season. When I first came in, there was something in him. He’s 6ft 4ins, got a nice touch, he’s good in the air, he can run, he’s got decent speed. “I think him coming back in the summer, we get a good chance to see him having played for points and having had something to prove. I would hope and I’m pretty sure I’ll see a step up both mentally and tactically in the game from him.” Brendan Rodgers via LeicestershireLive"
It’s not just a chance that Hirst will be pushing for, the young striker still hasn’t received a pro-contract with Leicester. Clearly there are strengths in his game. But Rodgers will need more than that if he is to prove himself, especially when you consider that he’ll be competing with Vardy, Daka and Iheanacho.
Initially signed from Leicester City’s sister-club, Belgian side OH Leuven, it would be a real bonus if the Foxes can get the best out of their young prospect and would certainly help with the squad’s summer rebuild. Just like Dewsbury-Hall and Luke Thomas have previously done, promotion of young talent can be the most effective way of reshaping a squad.
If Hirst can’t get his chance, he certainly has other options. After experiencing two years of first-team football, he wouldn’t want another season with the U23s, and I can’t see him wanting a third successive loan move. Whether that be at Leicester or somewhere else, the best thing for him is a permanent home.
Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has already expressed his desire for the striker to return to the club where he is so adored. I’m sure that offer is more than tempting, after all it’s an environment he knows he can excel in. Wherever Hirst ends up, this is the biggest summer of his career so far – it is up for him to prove he has what it takes.