Leicester City fans will want Russell Martin to use more up-and-coming talents next season in League One.
Indeed, the Foxes have a long list of academy talents who are now ready for some first team exposure, and they're already impressing the brand-new Foxes boss, with Kirsten Otchere opening the scoring last time out against Bristol Rovers in pre-season.
Bagging 26 goals to date in the youth set-up at the King Power, Otchere will believe his senior chance to shine will come very soon, alongside the likes of Sammy Braybrooke, who stood out against the Gas, as well, as another homegrown gem.
With Jeremy Monga just winning himself a blockbuster switch to Manchester City as another highly rated Foxes starlet, too, there is a lot of excitement in the air about the next generation coming through at the one-time Premier League champions, with the first team ranks becoming very stale.
Marc Albrighton, who lifted that lone Premier League title aloft as a dedicated Leicester servant, has one Foxes prodigy, in particular, that he's excited about...
Albrighton's glowing endorsement
Albrighton wasn't always the flashiest footballer during his long Foxes stay, but he's well respected to this day, having made a mammoth 313 appearances for the Midlands titans in total.
Since hanging up his boots, he has been vocal about matters involved the fallen giants, and he has was recently waxed lyrical about one standout youngster in particular that he believes can make the senior cut in League One.
Speaking with Leicestershire Live about the forthcoming season, he picked out Will Alves for a glowing endorsement, having previously trained alongside him at the King Power.
He said, when asked about the next generation of Leicester stars: “The standout one is Will Alves. For me, I’ve trained and worked with him before and he had so much promise coming through at a very young age.
"He had a horrible injury that set him back but he’s gone out and got some experience out on loan, he could be a player that should be looking at this season and be excited by it. It’s a big season for him. He’s such a good kid so I’m rooting for him."
The 21-year-old will love this backing from such a loved former servant of the club, as he has had to deal with some unfortunate moments in recent times at Leicester.
Indeed, the 2022/23 season saw him suffer with a horrible anterior cruciate ligament setback, before finding himself in the treatment room, again, last season with Huddersfield Town out loan.
Still, Albrighton believes he can be a success, and he will have impressed Martin already during the early days of the new managerial tenure.
It will be tough for him
He might not have been on the scoresheet against Bristol Rovers last time out, but he stole the show in the 3-0 victory against Northampton Town.
Alves would help himself to two goals and an assist against the Cobblers in that behind closed doors whitewash, with Leicester-dedicated X account Fosse Hub noting that Alves was "absolutely amazing" in the number ten role in that pre-season runout.
Of course, he will be delighted to be in amongst the goals against Northampton, but the 21-year-old will be eager to prove himself in the senior scene, as well, when the League One season kicks off next month.
It will be tough, as he only managed to score two goals last campaign with Huddersfield at the level, owing to recurring injury knocks.
But, if he can remain fit, he will be a wonderful weapon for Martin to have on his side, with one goal and three assists in the Championship for Cardiff City during the 2024/25 season, showing off a creative force who can play well above the lowly environment of League One.
This could be the breakout season at Leicester that Alves has long been craving for, with the Leicester-born attacker possibly a key part of the Martin machine that instantly returns to the second tier.
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