Yahoo News Tom Cannon sets out Leicester City hope as he bids to recruit team-mate
Tom Cannon wants to make an immediate impression on Leicester City’s new manager to earn himself more game-time at the club.
The striker made his senior Republic of Ireland debut on Tuesday night in a 3-0 defeat to Portugal and will now head off for his summer holiday. But in a few weeks’ time, he will be back at City’s Seagrave base and keen to show the new boss what he can do.
The identity of Enzo Maresca’s successor is not too great a concern for Cannon. Instead, his focus is on making the most of his first pre-season at City, having only arrived at the club on deadline day last summer.
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A back injury then kept the 21-year-old out until December, and from there, he was only afforded five starts across all competitions. In the final 11 games of the campaign, he played just 15 minutes.
With Kelechi Iheanacho released, there is one fewer striker to compete with at City in the upcoming campaign. And under a new manager, Cannon will be hoping he can show why he should be considered ahead of Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka.
“It doesn't really enter your head,” Cannon said on Maresca’s exit. “Our manager's gone to Chelsea, it will be interesting who we appoint. All I can do is go back and try to impress in pre-season and go from there.
“Game-time is important. Hopefully I can go back and hit the ground running in pre-season and get as many minutes as I can.”
Do that and Cannon should be in the Ireland squad for the next international break in September, when they face England in the Nations League. He may have a City team-mate alongside him too, with the striker working to recruit Kasey McAteer.
“I will be having words with him (McAteer) when I get back,” Cannon added. “I spoke to him during this camp, he had a tough season with injuries, did his hamstring a couple of times, so it was important he just rested up to be ready to go next season.”
Cannon’s last goal came in early January, when he netted for City in their FA Cup third-round victory over Millwall. But he went closest of any Ireland player on Tuesday night, bringing down a long ball and beating Danilo before firing into the side-netting. The opportunity came with his side already 3-0 down, Joao Felix scoring for Portugal in the first half before Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice in 10 minutes early in the second period.
Reflecting on his senior international debut, Cannon said: “It was bittersweet. It was a proud day for me and my family, to make my debut, and it was a nice feeling.
“The result was tough, but they are a good side, a top team, one of the favourites for the Euros, so we learn from it, regroup and go again. They have the likes of Ronaldo and Rafael Leao – it’s tough to deal with.
“(The chance) was tough. To be fair it’s hard in the heat of the moment, defenders are running back, it felt like it just didn’t sit right. There’s always the next game – and it’s England next.”
