Liam Moore says he owes Nigel Pearson a debt of gratitude for the way his Leicester City career has taken off during the past year.
Since Pearson's return to the club, the 19-year-old has made his first-team debut, become a permanent fixture in the first-team squad and earned an England under-21 call-up.
Moore, who returned from a three-month loan spell at Bradford City just after Pearson's arrived from Hull last November, said all the younger players at the club now know they will get a chance.
"I owe the manager massively," said Moore. "He has shown so much faith in me. I have played a double-figure amount of games already.
"He has always shown faith in me, all the way through pre-season and even now he doesn't hesitate to put me on.
"When I returned from loan at Bradford, it was a massive confidence boost to see him return because I saw what he did for the young players before.
"To come in and know that, if I work hard, I am going to get my chance was massive and he is showing faith in others, like Jeff Schlupp, who he has played at left-back recently.
"He could have easily brought in someone on loan when Paul Konchesky got injured, but he had faith in Jeff.
"He has also brought in two loanees who are both 19, Jesse Lingard and Michael Keane, so he shows faith in all of us."
Moore said confidence was high within the camp as they prepare for the hectic festive schedule.
"People are playing with confidence," he said. "We are getting the recognition we deserve at the minute because we are performing well.
"Some of the lads at other clubs say that Leicester have been the toughest team they have faced this year.
"The performances have been there regularly. We have been quite consistent but a bit unlucky with certain things that have gone on.
"We are there or thereabouts and that is all you can ask for at this stage of the season.
"If we keep performing well, the results will follow. By the end of Christmas, we could be right up there.
"Everyone has dreams of being in the Premier League and that is what is kicking us on now."
