WHEN WILL CITY PLAY THE PRINCE OF PERSIA?

[Blue Fox]

10:30 - 15 October 2007

Sidelined for most of the season, the Foxes' Iranian signing, Hossein Kaebi, is a worried man. Lee Marlow meets him

At 4.36pm on Saturday, August 25, with City's second home game of the season, against Watford, as good as won, a ripple of excited applause started to distend around the Walkers Stadium.

On the touchline, Hossein Kaebi - a 22-year-old Iranian international already dubbed the Prince of Persia - was limbering up, about to make his debut.

It was a bow he didn't take alone. Martin Allen called out to the back of the Leicester City bench and a big, friendly bear of a man came down to stand by his side, the City boss yacking animatedly into his ear.

Hamid Taheri was no football coach. Hamid Taheri was a translator; a man more used to dealing with asylum-seekers and refugees than excitable football managers.

Leicester City - a club that had witnessed most things in its 133 year history - had never seen anything like it.

Kaebi got 15 minutes against Watford - the game already won and Allen's P45 already determined.

The player looked fast. He showed a couple of nice touches. Despite being able to clear 100 metres in 10 seconds, he got clattered a couple of times.

Allen, who had been teaching him a rudimentary thumbs up/thumbs down style of English, reckoned he did "just fine".

And that's yer lot. Since then, the man who has made 50 appearances for Iran - a man signed from under the noses of Newcastle, Spurs, Wigan and countless other top European sides - has been languishing in the reserves.

In Alan Birchenall's office at the club's training ground, Hossein and Hamid are answering the Mercury's questions.

They're an unusual Persian pairing in many ways. Hossein - slight, handsome, unshaven, about nine stone wet through - and Hamid go everywhere together, the Iranian Little and Large of Leicester City.

Hamid, who came to England 34 years ago and lives with his partner, Jill, in Leicester, is teaching his new pal English.

So far, Hossein can manage "good morning", "how are you?" and "can I have a drink, please?" plus something he's picked up from the Walkers Stadium crowd: "Ooooooooooooh, you're shit, aaaaaaaaaaaaaah."

The language barrier is a problem when he's off the field, but on the pitch, the language of football is universal, he says.

"My problem is when I have to express myself," he says, via Hamid. "I am learning fast."

He likes it here, he says diplomatically. "Leicester is a beautiful city," he says.

"The people are warm, they treat you nice, it's easy to interact with them. I have done nothing yet and they have been kind to me."

He doesn't go out much ("I like to concentrate on my fitness," he says).

When he does, to do the shopping with his wife Sahar, 20 - so far, they have visited Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's ("I go to all the best places," he says) - the fans have shaken him by the hand and wished him well.

They may well be regular visitors to English supermarkets, but English food, it transpires, is not something they pile into their trolley.

When they arrived in July, it took three men to transport their luggage - weighed down with Iranian food - from the airport to their home off Upperton Road.

"Sorry. I do not wish to offend anyone, but I have not eaten English food," says Hossein. It might explain why he looks so trim.

"But, please, you are welcome to come to my house and eat. My wife is a fantastic cook. If you are a slim man, she will make you fat."

Hamid rubs a hand over his belly as he speaks Hossein's words. "It is very true," he says, from the side of his mouth. "She is a great cook and she cooks a lot of food."

It is the last day of Ramadan when we meet, the conclusion of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar where followers are supposed to observe a fast during daylight hours, eating only small meals in the evening.

For Hossein, the fast ended prematurely. "I could do it when I was in Iran," he says, "but I can't do it here.

"My wife said to me I had to stop, I had to break my fast. The game is more physical here and you need to be right mentally and physically.

"That's important to me. So I had to eat."

He taps his finger at the side of his temple. "The mind is the most important part. You need to concentrate. You need to have the right attitude to be a footballer."

Are you lonely? He shakes his head. "A professional player does not have the luxury of feeling lonely. It is only a short career, so you need to focus."

At this point, Birchenall comes into to his office. There's a barrage of loud jokes, handshakes and all sorts of boisterous banter.

"He's taking me to Iran, aren't you, Hossein?" says the Birch. Hossein looks bemused. "Oh yes. Then I'm taking him to Butlins - give him a slice of England."

Hossein says he has never met a man like Alan Birchenall. "He is always laughing. I like listening to him, even when I don't know what he is saying. He is unique," he says, as Birchenall leaves, still talking about Butlins.

Behind the smiles, though, is an inner anguish. Hossein Kaebi is perturbed.

He hardly goes out, he trains every day, he doesn't drink, he is careful about what he eats but still, he can't get a game.

He's desperate to do well, he says. That's why he came here - because he was sold a dream, of a club that wanted to do well and get promoted. Kaebi wanted to play a major part in that.

Apart from those 15 minutes against Watford, it hasn't worked out as he dreamed.

Yes, he says, he was injured. Not now. Now, he just can't get into the team.

Back home, he says, there is a national debate about why this player with 50 Iranian caps cannot get a game with a team in the lower reaches of the English Championship.

"That is what is bothering me. I am fit. I want to play," he says.

"It's frustrating. It is not my decision, it is the coach's decision - and I must follow that decision - but it is natural to feel frustrated.

"I have heard from supporters who want me to play. I sympathise with them. But what can I say? It is not my call."

He sits there, in his City training kit, his fingers pulling through a three-day-old thicket of stubble, and he looks dejected. He wears the number 13 shirt.

Maybe that number 13 shirt has been unlucky for you, we say, pathetically.

Hossein pulls a face and treats the question with the contempt it deserves. He doesn't think it's that.

"I've worn the number 13 shirt since I was 16," he says.

"I am not superstitious. I wear the shirt. The shirt doesn't wear me."

[Ozwin]

Poor fella.

[Bert]

Get him in.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Bless him.

[Joe.]

Erm... interesting.

I have no idea of his situation if he's not injured and why he can't make the squad even.

Surely he's a better wing back than Stearman?

[Fez of Mahrez]

I hope our fans sing his name at S****horpe on Saturday.

[Bert]

Kaebi Woooahhh

Kaebi Woooahhh

He only eats halal

He's friends with Idan Tal.

DO IT.

[Thracian]

Get him in.

Have you seen him play for the Reserves?

This isn't a guy who doesn't try or is having a sulk. He's trying all right and he's been struggling.

So on what possible basis would he be picked for the team at this time?

a) The team is doing fine.

b) Kaebi is not looking convincing at all.

Give the bloke some time. Why all the unseemly rush?

[Bert]

I want to see him in the first team.

Or is that not allowed?

[Brainy]

Are you the manager?

[Thracian]

I want to see him in the first team.

Or is that not allowed?

Of course it's allowed. I just wondered if there was some sensible football reason.

[Tevez]

Get him in the first eleven, keep going Kaebi

[Fez of Mahrez]

Have you seen him play for the Reserves?

This isn't a guy who doesn't try or is having a sulk. He's trying all right and he's been struggling.

So on what possible basis would he be picked for the team at this time?

a) The team is doing fine.

b) Kaebi is not looking convincing at all.

Give the bloke some time. Why all the unseemly rush?

You weren't saying any of this until he had one dodgy game. In fact, you stated that he wouldn't let anyone down if selected for the first team.

[Bert]

Of course it's allowed. I just wondered if there was some sensible football reason.

Just that i want to see if he's actually as good as people are making out.

You can't really judge him on reserve team football.

[Trumpet]

Have you seen him play for the Reserves?

This isn't a guy who doesn't try or is having a sulk. He's trying all right and he's been struggling.

So on what possible basis would he be picked for the team at this time?

a) The team is doing fine.

b) Kaebi is not looking convincing at all.

Give the bloke some time. Why all the unseemly rush?

And i've just returned home from a lovely day's worth of apple picking with Scooby Doo

[Simon]

You weren't saying any of this until he had one dodgy game. In fact, you stated that he wouldn't let anyone down if selected for the first team.

I'm glad you picked up on that Fezmerelda.

Why Kaebi is nowhere near this team is beyond me. Surely he is the exact attacking outlet we need? I would imagine that if we don't see him pretty soon, we won't be seeing him at all...

[Thracian]

Are you the manager?

I'm not sure who you were asking that question but Gary Megson's been watching him. He was certainly at the West Bromwich reserves game when Kaebi had a shocker. He reportedly left soon after Keabi left the field injured just before halftime.

Megson was also at the away game against Stoke Reserves when Kaebi was subbed off after an hour or so on his return from injury.

So I'm quite sure the manager will know precisely when and if Kaebi warrants promotion.

[Asha]

I'm not sure who you were asking that question but Gary Megson's been watching him. He was certainly at the West Bromwich reserves game when Kaebi had a shocker. He reportedly left soon after Keabi left the field injured just before halftime.

Megson was also at the away game against Stoke Reserves when Kaebi was subbed off after an hour or so on his return from injury.

So I'm quite the manager will know precisely when and if Kaebi warrants promotion.

Talk about blowing your own horn....

[Simon]

I'm not sure who you were asking that question but Gary Megson's been watching him. He was certainly at the West Bromwich reserves game when Kaebi had a shocker. He reportedly left soon after Keabi left the field injured just before halftime.

Megson was also at the away game against Stoke Reserves when Kaebi was subbed off after an hour or so on his return from injury.

So I'm quite the manager will know precisely when and if Kaebi warrants promotion.

Freudian slip Thrac?

[Number1flanker]

Kaebi looked really good when he came on against Watford - Fast, Skillful and determined I can't see why he dosnt get picked

PLAY HIM ON SATURDAY MEGSON

Let him dazzle Sky Sports 1

We Want Kaebi

[Head Honcho]

I doubt two experienced managers like MA and GM would leave him on the sidelines just for the sake of it!

At present he just isn't good enough!

So please can we all get over it?

[sdb]

surely a young, quick international with a biggish reputation is worth a place on the bench at the least?

[Thracian]

You weren't saying any of this until he had one dodgy game. In fact, you stated that he wouldn't let anyone down if selected for the first team.

You are quite right and my comments only indicate how high my own hopes were for Kaebi and how much I hoped he'd succeed.

I also wish his one dodgy game was just that. But it was followed by another at Stoke.

And unlike some, I'm prepared to accept the evidence of my own eyes and concede that my early optimism might not have been justified.

It could be, of course, that the second dodgy game was down to his his return from injury, to Ramadan, to the quality of his opponent, or any of many reasons.

But whatever the truth it wouldn't have helped his case for playing in the first team.

[Head Honcho]

surely a young, quick international with a biggish reputation is worth a place on the bench at the least?

56 international caps at 22 is admirable, but I think that says more about Asian football then his footballing ability!

[Thracian]

surely a young, quick international with a biggish reputation is worth a place on the bench at the least?

And let's say he had to play? What then if he's going to play as he has recently?

And who would he displace?

No, Kaebi has the answer to his predicament in his own hands.

He needs to be 90-minutes fit and he needs to show some form.