Get Carter is on the home straight for his Leicester City player reviews, finally it’s on to those that haven’t been afforded regular game time.
Hamza Choudhury of Leicester City
Appearances: 12 / Premier League 6/ Europe 4/ FA Cup 1 / EFL Cup 1
Moment to savour: The captain’s armband against Brighton in the EFL cup
Moment to forget: Watching a 2-1 lead evaporate in injury time against Spurs
Hamza Choudhury will be 25 in October and is in the final 12 months of his City contract. It’s safe to say it’s not quite kicked off for the Loughborough lad. He emerged three years ago with a tough-tackling reputation and rapid energy around the pitch. But he’s not quite carved a place out in the squad and is used in a variety of positions. Last season alone he played in four different positions as Brendan desperately and creatively tried to manage an injury-ravaged squad.
He was gleefully used in a ‘Mascherano’ type centre-back role in the FA Cup victory over Watford to great effect. But it soon faded as his next centre-back role was in that defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. There was also a start against Leeds United at Right-back where he held strong to contribute towards a clean sheet. But, none of these performances seemed strong enough for Brendan Rodgers to reward Hamza with an extended run in the City squad, especially not in his favoured central-midfield position where Leicester have an abundance of options.
The future seems destined to be away from the club if Hamza is to achieve his potential. Many LCFC fans will wish him well and be happy to see him prosper elsewhere than just being happy for the occasional foxes appearance.
Rating: 5.5/10. Chances of leaving: 75%
Marc Albrighton
Appearances: 30 / Premier League 17/ Europe 10/ FA Cup 1 / EFL Cup 2
Goals: 3/ Premier League 1 / Europe 1 / FA Cup 1
Moment to savour: A stunning strike against Rennes
Moment to forget: An ineffective performance against Roma as Leicester whimpered out
Still, one of the best free transfers the Foxes have ever signed, Marc Albrighton knows exactly what is required of him. Predominantly, a right-sided player that offers excellent positional sense and solid performances every week. His work rate and professionalism are once again never in doubt and he still confounds common assumptions about his talent with extraordinary moments. Witness a goal-line clearance against Spurs that many others would have given up on. He is as consistent a player as any manager would hope to have and will continue to offer his services in those fashions going forward.
The main bulk of his performances last season came between Christmas and March. He was constantly selected in Europe particularly after he launched a thunderbolt of a strike and an assist against Rennes. But with the return to the squad of James Justin and Ricardo Pereira, Albrighton found himself warming the bench again. Another season of squad play beckons for Mr Reliable, he seems happy to take that role for now, but for how long remains to be seen.
Rating: 7/10 Chances of leaving: 5%
Ayoze Perez
Appearances: 23 / Premier League 14 / Europe 8 / FA Cup 1
Goals: 3 / Premier League 2 / Europe 1
Moment to savour: A double strike against Southampton in his last 27 minutes of the season
Moment to forget: A crazy first-half red card at West Ham United
Another enigma of a player who on his day can put in some amazing performances. But not often enough. Since he joined the club, he has been a victim of the constant adaptation of the right-hand side where he has admirably tried to fit into a system not suited to his normal style of play.
But also for 30 millions pounds, he hasn’t displayed the relevant amount of consistency deemed to keep a place in the side. His lack of success in a Leicester City shirt isn’t entirely his fault and he isn’t entirely blameless. He was in the first eleven at the start of the season. But then he cost his own place with an over-exuberant challenge at West Ham earning him a red card and costing him his place. When he next played in Europe he scored a fantastic goal against Napoli and had a decent first half before being bizarrely substituted.
In Perez’s next Premier League game, he came off the bench against Manchester United to help set up two decisive goals to help win a thrilling contest. He would go on to start only four more Premier League games for the rest of the season to little impact. It would be easy to dismiss Perez as a flop, and many have with plenty of justification.
But then you witness him come off the bench and make a telling and wonderfully skilful contribution in Eindhoven you can’t help but wonder what could have been with this player. Then two months later when you’ve forgotten him on the last day of the season he comes off the bench and notches two clinical finishes against Southampton (incidentally what has he got against The Saints? That’s the ninth career goal against them). He may be an enigma we never understand, but I’m certain there is a quality player in there, he’s just not consistent enough to continue at City – or is he?
Rating: 6.5/10 Chances of leaving: 65%
Thanks for reading this series, let me know your comments and thoughts and roll on the new season.