The Academy - U16s / U18s / U21s

[kingfox]

Wonder who will be the 3 over aged players tonight.

Probably Whitbread, Wellens and Gallagher.

Just thinking aswell Liam Moore, Jeff Schlupp and Anthony Knockaert can all play but I highly doubt they will feature.

Shame Pierre Larrauri ain't with us anymore.

[davieG]

Coach Steve Beaglehole will take charge of a strong squad on Monday night when Crewe Alexandra visit King Power Stadium in the Professional Development League.

Five regular members of Nigel Pearson’s first team squad have been included in the group, as several of the Club’s senior pros top up their match minutes at the start of the international break.

Zak Whitbread, Matty James, Paul Gallagher, Jeff Schlupp and Conrad Logan have all been named in Monday night’s 16-man squad, joining young professionals such as Tom Hopper, George Taft and Jacob Blyth for what should be an entertaining night on Filbert Way.

Primarily in place for Under-21s, Development League fixtures allow for the involvement of up to three over-age players plus an over age goalkeeper.

Tonight's game is open to the public and kicks off at 7pm. Admission, payable on the turnstile, is priced £3 for Adults, £1 for Under-18s and free for accompanied Under-8s.

[davieG]

City’s Under-18s continued their unbeaten start to the new season with a 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Striker Joe Dodoo maintained his rich vein of personal form with the winning goal, as the young Foxes came from behind to make it seven points from a possible nine so far this term.

After seeing the Railwaymen take a first-half lead, City hit back before half-time through Louis Greenway-Tambini’s third goal of the season.

And when Dodoo weighed in with his fifth in three games during the second period, it was enough to secure three points and continue the Youth Team’s impressive start to the campaign.

“It was always going to be a difficult game against Crewe, whose reputation for producing excellent technical footballers precedes them,” said Academy Director Jon Rudkin.

“The game became a little scrappy near the end, but we were generally pleased with the way the boys passed the ball and we introduced two 15-year-olds during the second half, which will have been of huge benefit to their education within the Academy.

“There were a lot of big plusses to come out of the game and we were pleased to take three points from a very difficult away trip.”

Just like the senior squad, the Under-18s now have a two-week break from fixtures during international fortnight.

“It gives us the chance to assess our first few games, check fitness levels and essentially do an audit of where we are at present and look forward to next phase of the season,” Jon added.

[Tielemans63]

If points were awarded for hilarious surnames we'd smash this league.

[davieG]

Hopper's debut was no easy ride

NEW Bury signing Tom Hopper was preparing for a match in the Leicester City development squad when Peter Shirtliff made the SOS call last week.

With David Healy injured, Shaun Harrad and Andy Bishop unable to be called back from loan and Lenell John-Lewis and Lateef Elford-Alliyu mis-firing, Shirtliff’s one month loan offer looked like an act of desperation.

Yet the 18-year-old, who was awarded his first professional contract in the summer, acquitted himself well on his league debut.

The fact it was in front of a 17,000-strong crowd at Bramall Lane just emphasised what a calm head Hopper must have on his young shoulders.

“When I first found out that I was being thrown in at the deep end at Sheffield United I was slightly nervous, but it was good,” he said.

“This is what it’s all about, playing football at places like this, and hopefully I will get more of it.”

Hopper failed to score against the Blades and was in the starting line-up again in Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Prenton Park.

“You learn with each game you play, take something from it and progress. Hopefully I’ll get some more chances to prove what I can do.”

[ramadaone]

Under 18's played Barnsley today - 5 nil down after 20 mins !!!

Got it back to 5 - 5

Let a goal in very late on then we missed a penalty in the last minute