'Chelsea loss' bodes well for Leicester City future as Jamie Vardy appeal made

The headline moments at Leicester City’s awards night this week were the viral Leeds United chant and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s declaration that he had no intention of leaving the club.

That the midfielder is so keen on staying at the King Power Stadium when his sale would help greatly with the club’s concerns over financial rules will make for an interesting couple of months. It doesn’t feel like a deal that anybody wants to do, but it may have to happen.

Dewsbury-Hall won both the player of the season award, voted for by City fans, and the players’ player of the season award, voted for by his team-mates. And the top three were remarkably similar in both, showing an alignment between those in the stands and those on the pitch. Ricardo Pereira was also shortlisted for both, but while fans had Harry Winks in their top three, Jannik Vestergaard made the podium for the players’ vote.

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Beyond that, the development squad player of the year award went to Silko Thomas, and it bodes well for his future. Seven of the last eight winners of that award – Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, Hamza Choudhury, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Luke Thomas, Lewis Brunt and Tawanda Maswanhise – have gone on to make a first-team appearance the following campaign.

Thomas joined City last summer from Stamford Bridge, and the phrase ‘Chelsea’s loss is Leicester’s gain’ was mentioned on the night. The 19-year-old winger registered 10 goals and assists across 19 appearances for the under-21s this season, and he caught the eye enough to make Enzo Maresca’s bench for FA Cup ties against Birmingham and Bournemouth.

Under-16s face Man City in final

Talking of promising youngsters, City’s under-16s are into the Premier League Cup final against Manchester City next Monday, and supporters can go down to see the next generation of talent. It’s a 7pm kick-off at the King Power Stadium, with tickets costing £5 for over-18s.

Appeal for Vardy and Albrighton tributes

Before that, City supporters are being urged to get to their seats well ahead of kick-off for this weekend’s game in order to honour striker Jamie Vardy. In their most ambitious display yet, fan group Union FS are placing foil sheets on seats in the Kop and the East Stand, the first time one of their tifos will go across two stands.

So that the display works to its full potential, they are appealing for fans in those areas to get to their seats at the King Power Stadium by 12.20pm on Saturday, 10 minutes before kick-off against Blackburn. It’s going to be a spectacle, and Vardy deserves the best turn-out, so play your part if you’re in those stands.

And making sure both of City’s remaining title-winner heroes are celebrated, a second display is planned for SK1 after the game, during the lap of honour, to honour Marc Albrighton. He could be playing his final game for the club, with the winger’s contract up this summer.