Development Squad Fly Out To Jersey
- The Leicester City Development Squad land in Jersey for pre-season training
- City's Under-23s will face Jersey in a friendly on Tuesday night (7pm kick-off)
- New signing Sam Hughes has been named in Steve Beaglehole's 19-man squad
- Beaglehole provides an update on his side's summer schedule so far in Jersey
Steve Beaglehole’s side finished in ninth place last term, a season which ended with a stunning 4-1 success over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, and City have since begun their summer training schedule at Belvoir Drive this month.
Among the squad who travelled to Jersey are defender Sam Hughes, signed from Chester this summer, and Academy Player of the Season Alex Pascanu, while first and second year scholars Jakub Stolarczyk and Sammie McLeod also feature.
Fresh from penning new professional contracts at the Club, defender Josh Knight, goalkeeper Max Bramley and midfield duo Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Lamine Kaba Sherif have travelled with Beaglehole’s squad to the Channel Islands.
Josh Eppiah, whose eight goals helped fire City to success at the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong in May, has also been selected alongside fellow forwards Josh Gordon, Admiral Muskwe, Liandro Martis and Layton Ndukwu.
The Under-23s arrived in Jersey on Sunday evening and awoke at 5:30am the following morning for an early run along the beachfront. Later in the day, more fitness and conditioning work took place before ball training in the afternoon.
On Tuesday, Beaglehole's side will then train at Springfield Stadium in the morning. They'll return for a friendly against the Jersey national side (7pm kick-off). Back in April, the Foxes defeated Jersey 3-0 in a mid-season exhibition fixture.
Speaking from the team hotel on Monday morning, Beaglehole told LCFC.com: "This is the perfect setting for us to continue our pre-season training. We've visited Jersey before and everyone involved found both the facilities and the staff at the Jersey FA to be first-class.
"The players have responded very well to the physical and mental demands so far and the group are in great shape. We're all looking forward to what I'm sure will be another competitive fixture against the Jersey national team before returning to Leicester this week.
"These trips are vitally important for team bonding and fitness. I'm sure there will be a good crowd at Springfield Stadium on Tuesday night which will be another fantastic experience for the players.
"Over the past few seasons, on the back of the Club's recent success at all levels, the Academy has made great strides to facilitate opportunities like this. In my time at Leicester City, I have seen first-hand just how far the whole Club has progressed."
The Foxes embarked on several worthwhile overseas trips during the 2016/17 campaign, including a maiden journey in the UEFA Youth League, while also visiting Germany back in January for the Mercedes-Benz Junior Cup, where they finished fifth overall.
In May, a 10-man squad managed by Development Squad coach Ben Petty also secured the Club's second Main Cup title success at the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong. Later this month, a group of Under-19s will participate in the prestigious Generali Cee Cup in Prague.
Day Two of Hong Kong Citi Soccer Sevens
Watch all the action from the Foxes' triumphant second day of the Hong Kong Citi Soccer Sevens, which saw them overcome West Ham, Rangers and Aston Villa to lift the trophy.
Beaglehole added: “Later this summer, we’ll be in France for another exciting pre-season competition against top quality opposition. Some within the group here in Jersey will attend the Generali Cee Cup, where they could face the likes of Sparta Praha, Palmeiras and Everton.
“We’ve also got a host of domestic pre-season friendlies coming up which will give us the best possible chance of being successful over the coming months.”
City face Leamington at the New Windmill Ground on Friday 14 July (7:45pm kick-off) before playing Sheffield Wednesday U23s behind closed doors on Wednesday 19 July (12pm). Following that, the Foxes then travel to Liberty Way to take on Nuneaton Town on Saturday 22 July (1pm).
City squad in full:
Max Bramley
Dylan Watts
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Layton Ndukwu
Jakub Stolarczyk
Connor Wood
Alex Pascanu
Lamine Kaba Sherif
Josh Gordon
Sam Hughes
Liandro Martis
Josh Debayo
Josh Knight
Sammie McLeod
Faiq Bolkiah
Hamza Choudhury
Admiral Muskwe
Josh Eppiah
Trialist
Stay tuned to LCFC.com over the coming weeks for more updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Development Squad’s pre-season schedule.