Why 2022/23 is Harvey Barnes’ biggest Leicester season yet

Not only that, but if Barnes has any desires to progress his career, a stellar 2022/23 campaign can give him a lot of leverage to force a move to a big six club. Much of Barnes’ potential success in the coming campaign may depend on the fitness of Jamie Vardy. The Foxes talisman was absent from the start for 18 Premier League games last season, with his colleague still managing to set up teammates to score on a regular basis.

A fully fit Vardy, which unfortunately for Foxes fans, feels less and less likely by the year, could see a productive link up down the left channel and provide Barnes with the opportunity to elevate his goal involvement stats to a higher level.

It’s surely too late for Gareth Southgate to look at the Fox at the start of the year and decide he wants the winger on the plane to Qatar, but a strong start to the next campaign is more important than just the World Cup. At the age of 24, Barnes can no longer sit on the excuse of being a young or inexperienced player who is bound to make mistakes. He’s at the point in his career where he needs to deliver. And the extent to which he does will shape the level he can reach.