Doyle: All Focus On Promotion
The England youth international, a ball-playing centre-back, signed for the Club on a season-long loan from Manchester City this week, adding to the arrivals of Harry Winks and Conor Coady.
Doyle, 19, has earned a reputation in the Football League for his impressive displays for Sunderland and Coventry City over recent years, where he was involved in two promotion charges.
Having also previously played under new Foxes Manager Enzo Maresca within Man City’s academy structure, the 6ft 1in defender is delighted to be reunited with the Italian in Leicestershire.
“I’m excited to get going,” he said. “I’ve worked with Enzo before and we won the Under-23s Premier League title with him. That was a very good season for me and it set me up for the first loan move when I was 17.
“He improved me a lot so it’s good to work with him again. He’s very on it as a manager. He’s obviously very tactically proven. His player management is unbelievable as well. It’s always good to have a one-to-one [relationship] with the manager.”
Last term, Doyle helped Coventry to the edge of promotion, missing out by the tightest of margins on a penalty shootout in the play-off final. He hopes that experience will stand him in good stead ahead of another Sky Bet Championship campaign further along the M69.
“It was tough at the start,” the Manchester-born star admitted. “I couldn’t really find my feet within the squad. As the games went on, I found myself in the starting line-up and, as we’ve seen, it was a good season. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted.
“Playing alongside experienced players obviously helps me. I try to watch them and learn from them as much as I can. Especially with Conor here now, I’ll take as much experience as I can from him and hopefully put it into my game.”
Outlining what he intends to bring to King Power Stadium, he added: “I’m comfortable on the ball. I like to make things happen, bring the ball from the ‘keeper, get the midfield involved and hopefully create some chances. I think it’s important in the modern game to get on the ball, move it, and this season, with the squad that we have, we think we’ll do really well.
“I’m hoping to win promotion. That’s what’s on everyone’s mind right now, obviously to get the Club where it belongs.”