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Young Pros Set For East Asia Tour

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GOING TO ASIA! http://www.lcfc.com/...2769268,00.html

Some of City's promising young professionals will depart for the Far East this Sunday, as they embark on a post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong.

Led by Academy Director Jon Rudkin at the invitation of the Club's Thai owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, a squad including Martyn Waghorn, Liam Moore, Tom Hopper and Harry Panayiotou will experience some of the amazing sights of Bangkok, before heading to Hong Kong to compete in the Citibank International HKFC Soccer Sevens.

The group will then return to Bangkok, where they will face a possible friendly against Thai Premier League opposition towards the end of their 11-day trip.

Following their three-day stay in Bangkok, the squad will head to Hong Kong to begin preparations for the HKFC Soccer Sevens, where they will compete against West Ham United, Celtic and a HKFC Captain's Select VII in Saturday's group stages. The knockout stage of the competition takes place the following day (Sunday 20 May).

Other UK-based participants in the tournament include Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Rangers.

Their return to Bangkok will see a potential 11-a-side friendly against Thai Premier League opposition on Tuesday 22 May, before the travelling party returns to the UK on Wednesday 23.

Stay logged on to lcfc.com for regular coverage of the tour.

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Some of City's promising young professionals will depart for the Far East this Sunday, as they embark on a post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong.

Led by Academy Director Jon Rudkin at the invitation of the Club's Thai owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, a squad including Martyn Waghorn, Liam Moore, Tom Hopper and Harry Panayiotou will experience some of the amazing sights of Bangkok, before heading to Hong Kong to compete in the Citibank International HKFC Soccer Sevens.

The group will then return to Bangkok, where they will face a possible friendly against Thai Premier League opposition towards the end of their 11-day trip.

"It will certainly be a different experience for the players," said Jon ahead of the trip this week.

"Experiencing football in a region that is culturally different, playing against a different style and coping with the heat and conditions will all be part of a great opportunity to broaden their education. We're very much looking forward to it.

"It's also a great opportunity for the lads to learn a little bit about King Power - an operation I'm sure they will all be really impressed with."

The visit to Thailand will be the first for a group of players since the first team squad's successful tour in October 2010, where they received an incredible welcome as guests of the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

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Liam Moore and Martyn Waghorn will both be in the squad travelling to Thailand and Hong Kong.

"The owners have obviously put a huge amount into Leicester City, so for us to be able to go over there and learn a bit about Thai culture and how King Power operates before the tournament is a great opportunity," said defender Liam Moore.

"The first team lads that went over a couple of years ago told us how well looked after they were during their trip so we're all looking forward to seeing it. For us young players, it will be an amazing experience."

Following their three-day stay in Bangkok, the squad will head to Hong Kong to begin preparations for the HKFC Soccer Sevens, where they will compete against West Ham United, Celtic and a HKFC Captain's Select VII in Saturday's group stages. The knockout stage of the competition takes place the following day (Sunday 20 May).

Other UK-based participants in the tournament include Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Rangers.

Their return to Bangkok will see a potential 11-a-side friendly against Thai Premier League opposition on Tuesday 22 May, before the travelling party returns to the UK on Wednesday 23.

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I can only see this as a very positive thing.

It'll help the young lads to gain some experience of touring, will enhance their fitness and give em all some fun at the same time.

I hope we see one or two of them feature next season....

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GOING TO ASIA! http://www.lcfc.com/...2769268,00.html

Some of City's promising young professionals will depart for the Far East this Sunday, as they embark on a post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong.

Led by Academy Director Jon Rudkin at the invitation of the Club's Thai owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, a squad including Martyn Waghorn, Liam Moore, Tom Hopper and Harry Panayiotou will experience some of the amazing sights of Bangkok, before heading to Hong Kong to compete in the Citibank International HKFC Soccer Sevens.

The group will then return to Bangkok, where they will face a possible friendly against Thai Premier League opposition towards the end of their 11-day trip.

Following their three-day stay in Bangkok, the squad will head to Hong Kong to begin preparations for the HKFC Soccer Sevens, where they will compete against West Ham United, Celtic and a HKFC Captain's Select VII in Saturday's group stages. The knockout stage of the competition takes place the following day (Sunday 20 May).

Other UK-based participants in the tournament include Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Rangers.

Their return to Bangkok will see a potential 11-a-side friendly against Thai Premier League opposition on Tuesday 22 May, before the travelling party returns to the UK on Wednesday 23.

Stay logged on to lcfc.com for regular coverage of the tour.

They can't keep pace with what goes on at the KP.

So what fvcking chance of keeping up half way around the world lol lol lol

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Academy Director Jon Rudkin says the Club's young professionals will remember this summer's East Asia Tour for the rest of their lives, after receiving an extraordinary welcome in Thailand this week.

Ahead of this weekend's Hong Kong Soccer Sevens tournament, a squad including the likes of Martyn Waghorn, Conrad Logan, Cian Bolger and Tom Parkes have been taking in the sights of the Thai capital Bangkok, at the invitation of the Club's owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn.

The travelling party departs for Hong Kong on Wednesday for this weekend's competition, before returning to Thailand for a friendly against Thai Premier League outfit Pattaya United on Tuesday.

From the moment they touched down in Bangkok on Monday, the group have enjoyed a packed schedule in the Thai capital, absorbing some Thai culture while beginning to acclimatise to the hot conditions they will be competing in come the weekend.

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Harry Panayiotou arrives at the squad's base in Bangkok.

Monday saw them visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha before a pool training session during the day and an evening cruise along the Chao Phraya River.

On Tuesday morning it was down to the business of training at the impressive VR Sports Club, where the players got a first taste of football in the intense East Asia heat they will be combatting in Hong Kong.

That was followed by an afternoon theatre trip to experience a traditional Thai production and an evening attending a Thai boxing event.

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Steve Beaglehole takes Tuesday's training session.

"It's already been a phenomenal experience for the boys," Jon told lcfc.com.

"As soon as we landed on Monday morning, everyone has been so welcoming - not just those associated with the Football Club or King Power, but everyone we have encountered. The Thai culture is just so welcoming - the boys will remember this for the rest of their lives.

"I've been fortunate to have visited before, but visiting some of these historic sights has been a great opportunity for the lads to understand a little bit more about Thai culture.

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Conrad Logan and Pierre Larrauri take in the sights.

"They will also have recognised the status that King Power has as an organisation. They will know about the owners' vision for the Club from what they have experienced at home, but to see what they have developed here in Thailand shows them the potential for Leicester City."

Training has formed an important part of the tour's opening few days, with the players being gently adjusted to both the time difference and the conditions.

Jon added: "We've had to work carefully. After a long journey and a busy morning, we had a light fitness session in the pool, before the full training session at the VR Sports Club, which really is an incredible facility.

"That introduced the players to the pitch dimensions they'll be operating in at the weekend and gave them an idea of what it will be like playing in the 30-degree heat."

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Joey Jones familiarises himself with the locals.

The squad travel to Hong Kong on Wednesday to begin preparations for the weekend's Citibank HKFC Soccer Sevens. The Foxes will be competing in a group alongside West Ham United, Celtic and a HKFC Captain's Select VII, before the competition's knockout stages on Sunday.

The group will then return to Thailand, where they will face Pattaya United at the Dolphins' Nongbru Stadium in Pattaya on Tuesday.

Stay logged on to lcfc.com for updates throughout the tour.

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Martyn Waghorn joked that he has felt like the father figure at times during a young City squad's tour of East Asia this week.

And the powerhouse striker will be hoping to show he's the daddy this weekend, when the Foxes take part in the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens.

At just 22, Waghorn has been one of the senior players on the 11-day tour of Thailand and Hong Kong and admits he has enjoyed the responsibility of keeping some of the Club's young professionals in check.

But after an excellent few days of preparations for this weekend's competition, which kicks off with the group stages on Saturday, Waggy reckons every member of the squad is ready show their maturity on the pitch.

"I have felt like the dad of the group sometimes, looking after all the boys!" Waggy told lcfc.com.

"Me and Conny (Conrad Logan) have had a few extra responsibilities as the senior players, making sure the lads are on time for dinner and meetings etc. But everyone's been very professional.

"As the older players in the group, it's important to set the right example and it's nice when the younger lads ask for your advice or for your opinion on something.

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Waghorn and Pierre Larrauri in training this week.

"Everyone's really looking forward to the tournament now. We've trained hard this week to get used to the conditions, the atmosphere around the place is great and everyone's buzzing to get started."

Acclimatising to the conditions has naturally been one of the most important factors of the tour's opening week. After a three-day stay in Bangkok, the squad really stepped up their training regime upon arriving in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

It's been a careful balancing act for the likes of Academy Director Jon Rudkin, Development Coach Steve Beaglehole and first team Sports Scientist Matt Reaves, who have had to carefully prepare the players for the anticipated 30-degree heat.

"Training has been tough because of the conditions," Waggy admitted. "But everyone's been working hard and the boys have really enjoyed it.

"As well as the heat, we've had to get used to the intensity of the seven-a-side format on a pitch that is a different size, but the boys have all adapted brilliantly.

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Waggy and Conrad Logan have taken on the duties of the senior pros during the tour.

"The staff have done a great job on the training sessions, making sure we're working hard enough to be ready for the tournament, but not overworking us in the conditions. The amount of fluid you take on is vital because it would be easy to get dehydrated, but everybody's been on top of that.

"We've also had a chance to train at the venue and it's one of the best 3G surfaces I've ever played on. That gave us all a chance to get used to how the pitch plays and there have been some fans at the sessions too, which has really whetted the appetite."

City will face West Ham United, Celtic and a HKFC Captain's Select VII in Saturday's group stages, before potentially coming up against the likes of Chelsea, Sunderland and Aston Villa in Sunday's knockout phase.

With the tournament competitors being housed in the same hotel, Waghorn says there have been plenty of opportunities to size up the opposition and has backed the Foxes to make the most of facing some of the world's elite young talent.

"We're all staying in the same hotel, eating at the same times, seeing a lot of each other and we've managed to watch some of the other clubs training as well, so there's a great atmosphere around the place," he said.

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City's touring squad prepare for the Hong Kong Sevens.

"There are some big clubs here and it will be a great experience for all of us to play against some of their best young players.

"We'd obviously like to win the tournament, but it's a great opportunity for us to experience a different environment and play against some high-quality opposition as well.

"For me personally, I'm hoping to use the trip as a chance to get my fitness up, get some more match time under my belt and start preparing for next season, so there could be a lot of positives to come out of it."

Stay logged on to lcfc.com for further coverage of the tour, including this weekend's tournament plus Tuesday's friendly against Thai Premier League side Pattaya United.

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