Leicester vs Sheffield Utd, McAteer and Alves update

FoL detail Leicester City’s Sheffield United friendly. Meanwhile, young Foxes stars Kasey McAteer and Will Alves are getting instructions and credit.

The wait is nearly over for top tier domestic football, and, more importantly, the resumption of the Premier League. Here in England, festive ‘footy’ is almost a staple of the culture along with being expected. And the sporting action rarely fails to disappoint.

Upon return, Leicester face MK Dons in the League Cup Round of 16 at Stadium MK on Tuesday, 20 December. Following that clash, the Foxes host the newly eye-catching Newcastle United at King Power Stadium. Only four days after the Magpies contest, the east Midlands team travel to Merseyside to play Liverpool at Anfield.

Whilst some of the LCFC squad’s star players were at the World Cup, up-and-comers and leftover senior professionals were in Dubai for a warm-weather training camp. This process is to ensure fitness and sharpness when the EPL resumes.

There have also been two friendlies in the meantime. First of all, Leicester played French Ligue 1 outfit Esperance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne – also known as Troyes – in Abu Dhabi. Secondly, Brendan Rodgers’ men had a fixture against Sheffield United once they were back at home.

In the match versus Troyes, no goals were reportedly scored so the encounter ended in a 0-0 stalemate. A scoreline is not even truly known for the Sheffield friendly; hearsay has Leicester as 3-0 winners. But the result doesn’t really matter, I suppose, as long as the desired effect is achieved.

What we do know is that Belgium trio Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne and Wout Faes made comebacks in Blue. Midfield gem Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was involved as well. Not to mention Boubakary Soumare, Luke Thomas Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes featuring in the practice game.

Young Leicester City stars Kasey McAteer and Will Alves are getting instructions and credit

Some starlets appeared in the knockabout with the club from France, too: Kasey McAteer and Will Alves. There is actually now talk that McAteer is so trusted that he may be called on to supply cover at fullback for the first team from the substitute’s bench. This is because of James Justin’s injury and Ricardo Pereira’s current fitness.

Rodgers gave Alves some directions due to holding on to the ball too long. The LCFC boss had previously pulled the youngster up on that issue. Though the attacking midfielder possesses qualities that must be allowed to flourish.