Loan spells can help our young stars

[Bert]

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Some of Leicester City's brightest young talents could gain valuable experience on loan next season, according to Academy director Jon Rudkin.

Rudkin said it was an option that could help young players to bridge the gap between football at Academy and reserve level and the City first-team squad.

He highlighted the emergence of Chris O'Grady, who spent a spell last season with Rushden and Diamonds, as an example of how it can benefit both City and the player.

O'Grady returned from a successful spell at Rushden to play his part in City's fight against relegation - the forward scoring his first senior goal to secure the win at Luton.

Rudkin said: "I am sure there's one or two who want to catch the manager's eye and attain a place in the first-team squad.

"There may be young players who need to go and get experience initially, similar to Chris.

"But, as a football club, we have certainly got a philosophy of blooding young players.

"There's great encouragement and there are opportunities.

"When a young player is setting out, all he wishes for is to be given opportunities and we are a club that can provide that."

It was a successful season for the City Academy. The under-18s finished second in the league and ended the campaign with a 12-game unbeaten run.

There were also international honours for nine players, including Ashley Chambers and Joe Mattock who played for England Under-16s in the prestigious Montaigu tournament.

But, for Rudkin, success is judged by first-team recognition.

"Of course I would love to win the youth leagues and cups and everything else that's going," he said. "Our focus is to develop young players for the first team. What is encouraging is a lot of young players are getting opportunities."

Leading that list is Richard Stearman, who has made the right-back berth his own, James Wesolowski, whose season was cruelly curtailed by two serious injuries either side of some eye-catching displays, and O'Grady.

Left-back Alan Sheehan made a handful of appearances, Chambers was handed his debut, and Levi Porter and Conrad Logan were rewarded for their progress with new contracts.

Rudkin said: "In Rob Kelly and Mike Stowell we have got people who work closely with the young lads.

"I wouldn't want to name them but there are young players who have got an opportunity, the challenge is now for them to go and seize it.

"It's an exciting time to be at Leicester City," Rudkin added.