For any club, the development of young players coming through the ranks is becoming an increasing importance, and there are some good signs at Leicester City that more homegrown players are coming through the system.
The emergence of academy products Liam Moore and Jeff Schlupp in the past two seasons has certainly demonstrated the club's youth structure is bearing fruit, and will act as encouragement for the club's academy players aspiring to follow in their footsteps.
Academy director Jon Rudkin believes there is a clear pathway developing from the academy to first-team level at the club, and said there were some exciting prospects coming through the youth development programme.
City have several young players who have earned international call-ups, with one 18-year-old having already become a full international.
Tall striker Simonas Stankevicius was promoted from the Lithuanian Under-21s last week to make his full debut in a friendly against Moldova.
Stankevicius has been with the club for two years, having been spotted through City's widening scouting system.
Closer to home, City are having similar success with three schoolboys called into the England under-16 set-up.
Striker Admiral Muskwe, defender Darnell Johnson and winger Layton Ndukwu have all pulled on the Three Lions during the Victory Shield tournament this season.
Muskwe, from St Paul's Catholic School, is in his last year at under-16 level and went on as a substitute in England's 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland in Bournemouth this month.
Fullhurst Community College pupil Johnson, a big central defender and godson of former City favourite Emile Heskey, another of the club's youth products, captained England that day.
Ndukwu, from City of Leicester School, played in the victory against Wales. Both are still under-15s, but Ndukwu has already played in the City under-18 side this season and has been selected for the England squad for the prestigious Nike International tournament in Florida next month, where they will face the USA, Brazil and Portugal. Darnell is on the stand-by list.
"These are three young players who have been with us since the age of eight and have come through the system from the under-nines team," said Rudkin.
"It is the same pathway that Liam Moore has followed.
"He has been here from a very young age and is now showing to other young players the pathway that exists here.
"Jeff Schlupp was aged 11 when he came to the club. We have a manager who is quite prepared to throw them in if they are playing well.
"That sends a strong message through the club and it is an exciting one. The selection for Layton to go to America and play is fantastic.
"To travel such distance and play in a tournament against such countries as Portugal and Brazil is a great opportunity.
"It will be a great experience and it will benefit his development and our young groups."
The achievement is not a one-off. Last season, City had three youth players feature in the England Under-16s squad – Brandon Fox, Keenan King and Carl Bailey, and it isn't just England who are benefiting.
Two more under-15s, Cameron Yates and Dominic Brown-Hill, have also been selected by Scotland for a training camp.
Rudkin said the call-ups had been recognition for the hard work of the players and coaching staff at City.
"We are very proud as an academy to have so many go on to play internationally," added Rudkin. "There are a number of young players who are developing very well.
"They are aware of how far there is still to go and it is very important they remain focused and keep doing what has got them these opportunities.
"Successful players will always say how hard they have had to work to get there.
"That is emphasised to the young players every day."
![Inside football: Young Leicester City academy players showing their quality]( "Inside football: Young Leicester City academy players showing their quality")
