Future Foxes: Leicester City preseason youth report

Throughout the season we’ll be giving monthly reviews on the progress of the Leicester City Development Squad and Under 18s sides, as well as some of the young players out on loan. While the likes of Demarai Gray may have already broken into the first team at a a young age, this will focus on those players are not yet Premier League regulars. In the spirit of preseason preview season, we’re taking a look at some names to know before the season gets going.

Daniel Iverson, 18, GK

A highly thought of youth international for Denmark, whom many believe will eventually replace Schmeichel in the national team. After signing from Esberg in January, will get every chance to do the same here.

Season Preview: Iverson will play with the development squad this year, and is expected to be their first choice goalkeeper. As he’s under 21 and won’t count against the 25 man squad, could be the club’s emergency 3rd keeper.

Darnell Johnson, 17, DF - @djdarnell98

Godson of club legend Emile Heskey, the England youth international can play all across the back line. The Under 18s captain was named as Leicester’s representative in the The Guardian’s Next Generation 2015, a compilation of the best youth players at Premier League clubs.

Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Season Preview: After an impressive season, which saw him nominated for Academy Player of the Year, expect Johnson to kick on and push for a regular place in the Development Squad side. Defenders tend to develop more slowly, so don’t expect first team appearances too soon, but the experience will certainly help his progress.

Ben Chilwell, 19, LB - @BenChilwell

As he’s yet to make a Premier League appearance, I’ll keep treating him as a future prospect for now. After an impressive preseason and loan spell at Huddersfield, the 2014/15 academy player of the year has already forced his way into the first team squad 19.

Season Preview: The young left back has had another preseason to remember, signing a new 5 year contract with he club and starting games against PSG and Barcelona. Will go into the season as a backup to Christian Fuchs, however, and most of his minutes will likely come in cup matches.

Hamza Choudhury, 18, DM - @HamzaChoudhury

Darnell Johnson’s predecessor from Next Generation 2014, the combative midfielder has been highly regarded for a long time, and was coveted by some of the biggest teams in Europe before signing his first professional contract. Had a fantastic loan spell at Burton Albion last year, helping them win promotion to the Championship. Trained with the first team squad this preseason and started the match against Oxford.

We were impressed with Hamza in his first spell, in particular how he adapted so quickly to his first taste of senior football. We hope he can come in and do the same in the Championship. Having spoken to his Under 21s boss at Leicester Steve Beaglehole, he only said positive things since he has been back with them. - Burton Manager Nigel Clough

Season Preview: Great news for Leicester fans is that Hamza committed to the club on Saturday, signing a new 4 year contract. Great news for everyone involved is that he’ll be headed back out on loan to Burton. This time it’s for the full season, and he went straight into the starting lineup for their opening game against Nottingham Forest. A season in the Championship should be a fantastic challenge and could be a preparation for a move into the first team next year.

Layton Ndukwu, 17, LW - @Mister_Layton

The winger has impressed domestically and internationally throughout his youth career, including scoring a hat-trick for the England Under 17s. Despite his young age, regularly appeared for the Development Squad last year.

Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

Season Preview: Will look to push on from a great season, hoping to start more regularly for the development side. If he can, there’s great experience to be had this year, with the side in European competition and appearing in the EFL trophy with teams from League 1 and 2.

Admiral Muskwe, 17, ST - @Ad_Muskwe

It’s been a great summer for this young man. To cap a fantastic season with the Under 18s and Development Squad, he was named Academy Player of the Year. He then travelled with the first team to their training camp in Austria and appeared as a substitute in their friendly against Oxford.

Season Preview: Much like Ndukwu, Muskwe will look to win regular minutes and score plenty of goals for the Development Squad. I’d suggest he could be captain material, but that’s an insult to his current rank.

Raul Uche, 18, ST

The young Spaniard was signed this summer from Rayo Vallecano, where he was very highly thought of, to join the Development Squad.

Season Preview: More of this, please.

Which young players are you most excited about for the future? Drop us a line in the comments and we’ll talk the young Foxes!