Leicester City Academy Manager Jon Rudkin has thanked Sven-Goran Eriksson and praised the influence of the Club’s first team players as they help to develop the next generation of Foxes stars.
Rudkin has watched several of his promising youngsters join in training with the first-team squad and said that the City boss was keen to encourage the Apprentices.
Rudkin also revealed that senior professionals like Steve Howard and Matt Oakley were taking the time to offer advice to the younger players just starting out in their careers.
Rudkin’s Under-18 side currently sit top of their Academy league group having scored 43 goals in 13 games, the highest ratio in the country.
“There has been a number of lads who have been able to get a taste of first-team training, through Chris Powell, Derek Fazackerley and Sven,” Rudkin said.
“The knowledge and experience Sven has as a Manager is immense and he passes it on to the young players. That is really encouraging and good to see in a football club.”
“We also have some really good professionals at the club. Andy King came through the Academy, but we also have some great professionals like Steve Howard and Matt Oakley, and new lads, such as Martyn Waghorn, Chris Weale and Curtis Davies, who are good around the young players.’‘
Rudkin says that while winning is good, results do not override the ultimate aim, the development of young players.
“Each weekend I am able to watch the age groups from under-nines all the way through to the youth teams,’‘ he said.
“To see some of the good work going on throughout the Club from the coaches, and to witness some of the young players playing against the Academies, is really rewarding to see.’‘
