‘Motivated’ Dewsbury-Hall Ready For Next Challenge
Now set to remain a Leicester player until at least 2027, the Academy graduate signed a fresh contract this week following a breakthrough season of progression.
His full Premier League debut and first top-flight goal were just two of the milestones to arrive during an impressive 2021/22 campaign for the 23-year-old.
And sitting down with LCFC TV to discuss his feelings at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave, the 23-year-old believes committing himself to the Foxes for another five years is also a sign of the belief the Club has in him, to want to invest in his future.
“I’m over the moon, I’m so proud and I’m really, really happy,” a delighted Dewsbury-Hall enthused. "A lot of hard work has gone into this deal and it’s just a really nice feeling to finally get it done and now just look towards the future.
“Me and the Football Club have a really good relationship, obviously I’ve been here since I was eight years old, so they know me inside out and I know them, so it was a no-brainer really when I sat down and we spoke about the deal.
“I’ve got big, big ambitions for the future and I know the Football Club have too, so it was just a case of sorting it out quickly and I’m really excited about the next five years and I’m really looking forward to it because I know we’re going to push on to bigger and better things.”
The past decade-and-a-half has seen Leicester rise from League 1 to the pinnacle of winning the Premier League, reaching the latter stages of Europe’s top club competition and lifting the FA Cup – all for the first time.
Each one of those achievements span Dewsbury-Hall’s time at the Club. Previously watching the Club’s recent successes from afar, the Shepshed-born midfielder’s own path saw him go from Academy graduate to Development Squad star and now first team regular.
Central to Brendan Rodgers’ plans over the course of the previous season, he helped the team create more history by reaching City’s maiden European semi-final, coupled with a duo of individual accolades at the End of Season Awards.
After seeing major trophies being lifted and European adventures playing out, before becoming a major part of it, the time is now to move forward again, he insists.
Reflecting, Dewsbury-Hall said: “Watching on for years was a really good feeling. When I was here, the Club was lower down in the leagues and I’ve seen it progress and achieve things year by year. It was a special feeling being able to be inside the camp and see what it was like behind the scenes.
“It was something that just gave me happiness and a lot of motivation. I’ve seen the Club go from lower down to now pushing to be a top European club in the Premier League, so it’s a monumental change around the place. The mentality has changed and now, looking into the future, I just want to continue that.
“We’ve solidified ourselves now as a top Premier League club and I feel like we need to keeping backing that up and keep striving for more. We can’t rest now. We’ve got a good foundation; we’ve won trophies and having a taste of that just makes you more motivated.
“That’s what I want to bring to this team. I want to continue to push players and push myself, because that’s the winning mentality and that’s what you want to do.”
As referenced, it's not always been an easy road, individually or for the team, in years gone by. Indeed, two years on from signing for the Club as an eight-year-old, Leicester were consigned to the third tier of English football for the first time in history.
The Shepshed native believes the long route to the top is what makes it even more special to be inside the Club’s impressive new training ground and walking out to play at King Power Stadium in front of his relatives and friends.
“It’s a great day for myself and my family,” he continued. “They’ve seen the struggles and the times when it’s not been as high, and they’ve stuck by me through every step of the way.
“I’m so happy that I can show them that the hard work takes you a lot of places and it’s all about believing in yourself, because eventually that will take you to where you want to go. They are just really proud and excited to look to the future.
“I’ve got a lot of friends and family who support the Club and it’s just extra special stepping out onto the pitch now, knowing that I’ve been in the stands watching the team. It’s just a surreal feeling because I’ve seen a lot of people here come and go.
“I’ve just risen through the ranks and to finally say I play in the first team in multiple competitions…it’s something you dream of. It’s a tremendous feeling finally getting this done because now I know I can just kick on and it’s about not resting on my laurels now.
“It’s about stepping up again and really trying to achieve things that I know we can. This isn’t it now, this is just the start for me. I might have signed this new deal, but I’m looking on to the next things now and I’m just looking to push on. That’s been my mentality all my life.”
The eagerness to return and compete in the Premier League is coupled with a burning desire to improve on the groundworks put in last term. Playing 43 times in 2021/22, including starting 23 of the last 24 Premier League games, is an indication of the high level the midfielder was playing at.
Beginning the new campaign with a home fixture against Brentford, Dewsbury-Hall cannot wait to hear the backing from the Blue Army on Filbert Way once again following an abundance of support from the Foxes family throughout his journey.
“It’s been a great summer,” the former Luton loanee added. “I obviously played a lot of games towards the end of the season, and it was important just to get a bit of a rest and I’m just happy that I got this deal sorted before the start of the season. Now I can fully concentrate on it and hit the ground running straight away.
“I’m so excited to start playing again. I’m looking forward to next season. I’ve got the feeling of playing in the Premier League for Leicester and I just want it to continue, so I’m getting myself in the best possible shape ready for pre-season and ready for the start of the Premier League.
“This year we are really looking to get back up in there, and I feel like we can. I’m the sort of player that thrives off playing a lot of games – I get into my momentum, into my swing. I’m a naturally fit person.
“When it comes to that first game of the season, it’s just about being focused. Everyone wants to be winning games, that’s when you’re playing your football and confidence is high, so we’re looking to thrive.
“The amount of support and messages I’ve had and great pieces of advice I’ve had from everybody, it gives you that extra edge. It’s something that I’m really grateful for over this past season, sometimes fans don’t realise how important it is, giving players a tremendous amount of confidence.
“It makes it a pleasure to play for this Football Club, because you want to succeed, you want to make everybody happy. Hopefully it continues. I know they will be pushing us from day one and I’m sure that we’ll be able to repay that on the pitch.”