RODGERS PUTS HIS FAITH IN FOX CUBS

Dewsbury-hall the latest star from King Power conveyor belt of talent

HE has a name that sounds like a wedding venue – and he’s the latest Leicester kid to be groomed for stardom by boss Brendan Rodgers.

Kiernan Dewsbury-hall was the rookie midfielder who came off the bench against Chelsea at the weekend and he’s set to be involved again when Legia Warsaw visit the King Power tomorrow night for a Europa League clash.

Rodgers has never been afraid to give youth a chance.

He nurtured Ben Chilwell (right) before the left-back was sold to Chelsea in 2020 for £45million. And he fasttracked Luke Thomas, 20, from the academy to replace Chilwell and the defender went on to lift the FA Cup at Wembley last term.

Now home-grown academy graduate Dewsbury-hall, who impressed on loan at Luton last term, feels he has the trust of Rodgers, who made his name as academy chief at Reading before

Jose Mourinho hired him for Chelsea.

Dewsbury-hall, who was born in Nottingham but grew up in Shepshed outside Leicester, said: “We have had some really positive conversations.

“He told me that I’d done exactly what he wanted me to do out on loan and he could see a difference in me. You could see that he was really interested in what I was doing. As a player, you want that. You want the manager to be interested. It fills you with confidence and motivation.

“About a month before pre-season I went on a really strict gym and fitness regime. I knew I had to give myself the best chance. “I knew I’d done well at Luton but it was a clean slate and I needed to be ready. I played in pre-season as well and scored and assisted, so everything that I wanted to happen did happen.

“The season’s come around and I’ve got some game time. Now I just have to keep working hard and, when I get my chance to

play, I’ll have to try and make sure that I take it.”

Dewsbury-hall has already had a taste of the big time, coming on as sub at 0-0 as Leicester went on to lift the Community Shield at Wembley thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s late winner over Manchester City.

Other young players are now pushing to follow in his footsteps, with the likes of Vontae Daley-campbell, Wanya Marcal-madivadua, Tawanda Maswanhise and Kasey Mcateer impressing at the club’s academy at the £100million HQ.

Dewsbury-hall, who made his Foxes debut in an FA Cup tie almost two years ago, added: “The Community Shield is probably one of the best moments I’ve had in football and I hope there’s more of that to come.

“I believe I can do it. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that.

“I realised when I was 14 that this is what I wanted to do and I’ve sacrificed things in order to do it.”