Will Alves and Sammy Braybrooke are two of the club’s most best prospects and are coming towards the ends of their recoveries from ACL tears suffered in the winter
Enzo Maresca shares Leicester City supporters’ excitement over Will Alves and Sammy Braybrooke with the young duo to be given a chance to provide “new energy” to the first-team squad when they are fit.
Maresca has welcomed starlets from City’s development squad into his side this season, with Kasey McAteer the club’s top scorer, with Wanya Marcal getting his first goal for the club, and with Jakub Stolarczyk and Ben Nelson handed their senior debuts.
But perhaps the most exciting prospects at the club are Alves and Braybrooke. Both are in recovery from ACL tears suffered in the winter, but have now returned to light training. In a couple of months’ time, they may be able to play in games again.
And when they are back, they will be in contention for a spot in Maresca’s first team. Having been informed of their talents, the City boss said he has watched clips of them and is keen to see them in action when they’re at full fitness.
“Absolutely, I’m aware of them,” Maresca said. “Even if they now have injuries, because everybody is talking very well about them, I saw some games and clips about them, and they look very good, both. But now, unfortunately they are injured, so when they are okay, we’ll see.
“With the young players, new energy, full energy, it’s always good. Hopefully they can come back soon and for sure they’re going to be with us. We’ll see how they are.”
The duo, both still in their teens, seem ideal for Maresca’s system. Braybrooke, a deep-lying midfielder, should slot in well in Harry Winks’ position, while Alves, having honed his off-the-ball work in appearances for City’s development squad, could do well as a number eight.
They will turn out for the Under-21s before getting a first-team chance, especially with such a big squad available to Maresca. On Friday night, Marcal and Nelson both returned to Ben Petty’s side for their 4-3 Premier League Cup defeat to Burnley as they were not needed in the first team at Southampton.
Marcal opened the scoring and after an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, Amani Richards put City back in front before the hour. City then conceded three times in 20 minutes, with summer signing Silko Thomas netting an injury-time consolation. The Under-21s have now lost their last four games in all competitions.