Eaden: Thomas likely to go out on loan
FORMER Coventry City striker George Thomas will be farmed out on loan by new club Leicester City before the season’s out, predicts Nicky Eaden.
The Sky Blues coach believes the 20-year-old will be sent out to get first team football as early as the New Year after joining the Premier League Foxes’ Under-23s this month.
Thomas spent the summer in turmoil over whether to stay at Coventry – where he had grown up through the Academy – and be virtually guaranteed first team action under Mark Robins, or join his home-town club and attempt to make the huge step up to top flight football.
Thomas trained with the Sky Blues throughout the preseason but was unable to play friendly games due to being out of contract, and sought advice from Eaden on a daily basis.
“He used to chew my ear off about it every day and I felt for him a little bit,” said the 44-year-old, who knows the set-up at Leicester first hand after spending a year alongside the Foxes’ Under-23s coach Steve Beaglehole, working with the club’s development squad in 2012/13.
“Professionally, on a football level, I told him he was better off staying here.
“I have been at Leicester and there’s a danger he might get swallowed up in the 23s.
“Listen, he might do exceptionally well and catch the eye and get a chance there, and that’s all he needs but, realistically, I expect to see him loaned out in January or next season.
“The big Cat One clubs can afford to do that. Leicester aren’t even the biggest for it. We used to play against Chelsea or Man City and they have
20 or 30 players at every age group. They can stockpile players and hope that one comes through.
“We haven’t got that luxury here and I don’t think it’s the right thing anyway. But that’s just my opinion.”
Coventry boss Robins hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Thomas returning to the Ricoh Arena on loan at some stage in the future. Asked if he thinks he’ll be sent out on loan and, if so, is he someone he’d look at bringing back, he said, “I have no idea if he’ll be loaned but we have got to move on and wish him all the best,” suggesting that was the end of the matter, for the time being at least.
However, when pressed further he admitted: “If things arise where our paths cross again, then fine.”