davieG Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 Merc Academy product Tom Hopper has not looked out of place training with the Leicester City first team as assistant manager Craig Shakespeare acknowledges. The 18-year-old striker made his full debut as a substitute in the FA Cup fourth-round victory over Swindon Town and has continued to train with the first-team squad. Shakespeare said manager Nigel Pearson had been impressed with what he had seen. On-loan striker Nathan Delfouneso returned to Aston Villa after last Thursday's victory at Derby County and City were due to hold talks with Villa about extending Delfouneso's stay at the King Power Stadium. Until the likes of Martyn Waghorn, Jeff Schlupp and Paul Gallagher return from injury, City are short of striking cover for the first-choice pairing of David Nugent and Jermaine Beckford, but Shakespeare said Hopper would be considered. "I think young Tom has really impressed everyone," said Shakespeare. "He has come in and he is all-action. He is 18 and he doesn't worry about reputations. "He trains whole-heartedly and he is great to have around. He has been involved with us and was on the bench at Norwich. He is another one who can do a job for us. "I think the biggest compliment you can pay Tom is that he doesn't look out of place in training. That has been the case from day one. "I have watched him in a few development games here this season and Nigel was aware of him. On his first training session, I know Nigel was more than impressed with him." Having been involved in the last two rounds, Hopper is likely to feature again as a substitute in the FA Cup quarter final against either Chelsea or Birmingham City on Sunday, March 18. After their 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, the two Blues face each other again at St Andrew's a week tomorrow but Shakespeare said he does not mind who it is who stand between City and a Wembley appearance in the semi-finals. "Even in my family we are torn," said Shakespeare. "My daughter wants Chelsea so she can go shopping in London and my lad wants Birmingham because it would be local for us. "You can be divided on who you would prefer. Once that tie is settled, though, we can look at it. "It is a nice one for the fans, but we have to deal with each league game first, and there are a lot between now and the cup game. If we are going to get that consistency and do anything in the league we have to make sure we start doing it sooner rather than later. "I have no problems with the fact we know the game is there. But in the run-up we have to be fully focused on who we are facing and what we are about in terms of us being prepared, and the cup will take care of itself."
jonlcfc1990 Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 Looked good when he came on for Swindon Possibly another Schlupp in the making. One highlight this season was being at Rotherham to see Schlupps Hat trick maybe it won't be long until we witness this young mans talent
surrifox Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 we've had a lot of false dawns with youth team strikers in the last few years who've promised much and ended up bumping around the lower leagues before disappearing - it would certainly be fantastic to see a local youth team product make it as a first team regular- we seem to continually have good crops of youngsters but that is as far as it goes.
Carter The Boss Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 He showed a lot of promise in the Swindon game. I love that we are starting to see some players with real promise come through the youth setup. By all accounts Bolger is doing well at Bristol Rovers, Hopper looks good, hopefully Schlupp will come back stronger than ever
Ric Flair Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 It would be nice if he got a few sub appearances for us before the end of the season, if he hits the ground running then great, if not then maybe loan him out to aid his development. He sounds like he's made a big impression on Pearson just like Schlupp did on Sven.
Guest Col city fan Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 It would be nice if he got a few sub appearances for us before the end of the season, if he hits the ground running then great, if not then maybe loan him out to aid his development. He sounds like he's made a big impression on Pearson just like Schlupp did on Sven. I agree... If its clear that we won't make play offs then I'd give him a few appearances to see what he could do.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 We should take these to the ground and wave them over our heads when he scores. "ooooo-(THUMP!)-aaaaa-(THUMP!)-oooooo-(THUMP!)-aaaaaa-(THUMP!)-oooooo-(THUMP!)-aaaaaa!"
StanSP Posted 27 February 2012 Posted 27 February 2012 Excellent news. Would love to see him make a few more cameo roles towards the end of the season. He'll be bursting with enthusiasm especially with praise like that given by Shakespeare. Can see him going out on loan for a while like Schlupp did with Brentford. That experience was good for Jeffery so hopefully there'll be a repeat of that for Hopper before he makes a bigger mark in our first-team squad. Future is bright for young Tom!
LeeTheFox Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 Off topic I know but can I ask, where's king?
StanSP Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 Off topic I know but can I ask, where's king? Still missing.
Tuna Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 played for Boston United when he was 15. http://www.football.co.uk/lincoln_city/clubs_track_boston_schoolboy_star_rss272039.shtml
HoustonFox Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 If the Fonz has gone back then it shows that Waggy and Jeff are nearing fitness and that they have a lot of faith in Young Tom
Out Foxed Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 Off topic I know but can I ask, where's king? he's been playing...didn't you see him?
StanSP Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 If the Fonz has gone back then it shows that Waggy and Jeff are nearing fitness and that they have a lot of faith in Young Tom Or his loan spell has ended or Villa called him back because they only have Agbonlahor and Heskey available (Bent injured, Keane gone back to USA). Unfortunate as I liked the look of the Fonz despite what I'd been told about him before he arrived. JB and Nuge just hit form as he arrived, which means he didn't get as much of a look-in as I would have hoped.
HoustonFox Posted 28 February 2012 Posted 28 February 2012 Or his loan spell has ended or Villa called him back because they only have Agbonlahor and Heskey available (Bent injured, Keane gone back to USA). Unfortunate as I liked the look of the Fonz despite what I'd been told about him before he arrived. JB and Nuge just hit form as he arrived, which means he didn't get as much of a look-in as I would have hoped. Yeah, it could be that too...
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