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Rowett must now give Monga treatment to this rising Leicester ace

Gary Rowett must consider bumping up this rising Leicester City youngster to the first team picture, like the Foxes have done with Jeremy Monga.
Stoke City v Leicester City - Sky Bet Championship
Stoke City v Leicester City - Sky Bet Championship | Plumb Images/GettyImages

Despite only being 16 years of age, Jeremy Monga has a wealth of first-team experience already under his belt at Leicester City.

While Ruud Van Nistelrooy's defeat-heavy reign in charge of Leicester last season is best forgotten about, now, the Dutchman did have a significant role to play in Monga's early Foxes breakthrough, having handed him his first-team debut last season at just 15 years of age.

The teenager's dizzying rise, which has seen him line up for Foxes at a senior level 32 times now, has resulted in the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly taking a peek at the number 28 in action, ahead of making a move.

He hasn't featured much since Gary Rowett has taken on the managerial reins, with Monga left rooted to the substitutes bench across Leicester's last three league clashes.

But, the energetic youngster will be ready for a slice of first-team action, whenever it's next handed to him, as he strives to play a key part in his boyhood club clinching survival.

Leicester fans must loving being able to cheer on one of their own this season, as the campaign - on the whole - has been a miserable ordeal to try and sit through.

Could Rowett be prepared to offer another stirring homegrown youngster the same first team chances Monga has been generously gifted?

Only time will tell, but the evidence is now stacking high as to why Rowett should let his guard down, and consider this bold approach.

Rowett must give Monga treatment to 18-year-old star

Since being handed the main management gig, Rowett has certainly turned Leicester into more of a formidable foe defensively.

Indeed, across Rowett's seven games in charge so far, only nine goals have been leaked. To add context, Leicester - under Marti Cifuentes - would give up a worrying 48 goals from his 31 games in charge, before being given the boot.

Yet, while the performances have become more disciplined under the back, the attacking displays have left a lot to be desired, with only a paltry seven goals scored.

To break through the current humdrum, Rowett could be prepared to launch 18-year-old sensation Lorenz Hutchinson into the first-team picture, in a similar daring move like when Van Nistelrooy gambled on Monga coming good.

Hutchinson has clearly outgrown his current age bracket at the King Power, with his electric form in the U18 Premier League fold this season showing off a remarkable Monga-like talent.

A devastating 15 goals have come his way in U18 Premier League action, as he's even been handed the captaincy on occasion.

He continues to exceed expectations, as well, with his debut for the England U18s over the break seeing him bag his debut goal for the youthful Three Lions.

At this point in his fledgling career, Hutchinson is already showing himslf to be a natural born killer in front of goal, with Rowett in desperate need of a daring, direct attacker like the raw 18-year-old, in his stale first-team set-up.

He, of course, won't come in and instantly right all the wrongs present, as Monga hasn't been that youthful miracle worker, either.

But, right now, Rowett has very little to lose in gifting Hutchinson some well-deserved first-team chances, as the teen attacker would surely want to run himself into the ground for his boyhood club.

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