Conor Chaplin has finally been embedded into the Leicester City camp, with the experienced attacker featuring in the both of the Foxes' pre-season workouts in Spain.
The 29-year-old impressed, in particular, during the breathless 3-3 draw with Malaga in Marbella, with with his display noted as causing the Spanish hosts' defence "so many problems" by journalist Josh Holland, during the latter stages of the sun-soaked match.
Picking up the seasoned attacker on a free transfer does stick out as a coup of a purchase, with Chaplin collecting five goal contributions, just last season, on the books of Portsmouth in the Championship.
With Martin also stating recently that he had rejected second-tier offers to move to the King Power, he could be key in promotion being instantly won, away from just standing out in pre-season contests.
Why Chaplin is a great signing
Leicester is still on the hunt for that coveted new striker, but Chaplin will certainly help the goals flow next season, as an electric League One attacking force on his day.
Indeed, he has an impressive 48 goals and 12 assists under his belt in the punishing third tier in the past, with his last season at the level seeing him collect an outrageous 26 goals to be Ipswich Town's main man during their promotion heroics.
If he can hit these heights under Martin's wing, another promotion will surely be added to his already loaded CV.
He has four EFL promotions on his glittering resume, with three of those coming in Suffolk, and the other coming with Pompey during his first spell at Fratton Park. Why not add a fifth?
Very few people who he has come into contact with in the beautiful game have a bad word to say about him, either, with Chaplin just the positive, forward-thinking character Martin requires, to break out of the depression of back-to-back relegations.
He was labelled as an "outstanding" in May when it was confirmed he'd be walking away from Portman Road by his long-term Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, with Chaplin hopeful that Martin can wax lyrical about him down the line.
With the 40-year-old loving a 4-2-3-1 set-up, it's likely that the Worthing-born attacker would slot into a potential Leicester starting XI in the number ten role, with 88 career goal contributions falling into his lap when utilised as a second striker-style presence, or as a number ten.
Where does that leave this other Foxes midfielder, who also enjoys playing in this spot on the pitch?
Where does this Leicester star now fit in?
It goes without saying that Chaplin will start for the Foxes next season.
Certainly, it would be foolish not to make him one of your main starters, when you consider his expertise of the level.
This does mean, on the other hand, that Bobby De Cordova-Reid will have to make do with not being a starter in the number ten spot on the pitch, despite the 33-year-old playing here 18 out of the 36 times he's donned Leicester blue to date.
It's where he's thrived the most as a well-versed EFL star, with 27 of his 44 Championship strikes coming about while he has been slotted into a team as a number ten.
Conor Chaplin + Bobby De Cordova-Reid's career numbers as an AM:
Stat | Chaplin | Reid |
|---|---|---|
Games played (AM) | 198 | 177 |
Goals scored | 62 | 37 |
Assists | 26 | 16 |
Martin could look to utilise the 45-time Jamaica international down the wings, potentially, with the options currently available to him not plentiful.
It remains to be seen how much action the 33-year-old will receive next season, because if it's a toss-up between Reid, and Chaplin, starting just behind the lone centre-forward right at this moment, the one-time League One promotion winner wins that head-to-head battle.
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