Watch Okoli's goal vs Northampton as Leicester announce forward loan

The domestic season is now fully underway at Leicester City Football Club, even though the English Football League One schedule has not yet begun, as the Foxes played and defeated Northampton Town in the EFL Cup at the weekend. The Cobblers are based in the neighbouring county and frequently arrange friendlies, transfer dealings and pre-season fixtures with LCFC.

Many Leicester youngsters have spent time on loan at Sixfields over the years in order to aid their development. Last season, promising City attacker and academy starlet Jake Evans joined his hometown club for competitive matches in League Two, the fourth tier of English football.

Many in the Blue Army viewed Evans as one of the youth prospects most likely to step up to the first team this season, though he still appears slightly too slight, diminutive and youthful to lead the line. He might have expected game time on the wing, but the arrivals of Liam Cullen, Wes Burns and Tommy Watson, plus the versatile Connor Chaplin who can also play there, have reduced opportunities to almost nothing.

As a result, the City academy graduate signed a new Foxes contract then officially joined Cheltenham Town on a season-long loan, with both clubs confirming the move on Monday afternoon. The 17-year-old has developed impressively at Seagrave: he is a tenacious, quick player who combines blistering speed, direct dribbling and intelligent pressing, and he remains effective in duels despite his lack of height and strength.

Evans is also a composed finisher who was the City's Under-23 top scorer before making his first-team debut at just 16. Still maturing, his hunger, versatility and work-rate mark him out as a potentially exciting talent for the East Midlands side's future.

Leicester City set-piece goal

In the meantime, Leicester continued Russell Martin's generally excellent pre-season form with a victory in their first competitive match of the new campaign. As noted, the Cobblers visited King Power Stadium and were beaten, with central defender Caleb Okoli scoring the only goal of the game.

The Italian has been linked with a move away from Filbert Way across the last three transfer windows, including this one. But with Ben Nelson injured long-term and no other new signings arriving in that position, an athlete who some supporters wrote off could now become a key figure.

Harry Souter is the most likely departure after an apparent £8 million bid from Sheffield United, yet it was Okoli who found the net to send his side through on Saturday. Martin wishes to make the most of set pieces this season, therefore he was particularly pleased that a corner was dispatched by the defender thanks to a Luke Thomas assist.

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