In the hallowed halls of the King Power, Jake Evans is said to be considered not far off the calibre of Jeremy Monga by many at the club. Yet their trajectories have begun to diverge in fascinating fashion.
For a significant tenure, the Foxes faithful clamoured for Evans to be integrated into the senior setup. A wish briefly granted when he was handed a debut in the Premier League's unforgiving theatre.
However, the starlet soon vanished from matchday sheets, consigned to the developmental wilderness before being dispatched on loan. ​Since that initial breakthrough, no fewer than two LCFC managers have materialised and departed.
Evans is currently a distant figure with respect the first team squad. While he bides his time, Monga (who shattered a Championship record only last summer) has seen his momentum curiously stagnate.
Following a string of mediocre appearances, the 16-year-old's (who shouldn't be judged harshly, of course) development appears to have halted somewhat. Conversely, Evans is flourishing under the tutelage of the EFL, earning the highest praise an on-loan attacker can receive: a direct comparison to the bullish brilliance of Wayne Rooney.
Leicester City's Jake Evans's Wayne Rooney comparison
Honed in the robust environment of Northampton, a town whose proximity to Leicester adds an intriguing layer to his progress, Evans's quality has been the catalyst for this newfound fervour. His relentless industry and capacity for the impressive versus Peterborough United have silenced any doubters regarding his readiness for the professional grind.
"The courageous and combative style of Leicester City prospect Jake Evans is reminiscent of a young Wayne Rooney, his loan manager Kevin Nolan has said."LCFC Live
Despite the managerial merry-go-round at his parent club, the conviction remains that Evans is destined for a sustained run in the Leicester side at any moment, really. Whether the club finds itself fighting for top-flight survival or navigating the rigours of tier two, the 'the Cobblers' Rooney' has rendered himself impossible to ignore.