GRAY NOT A FIXTURE FOR FOXES JUST YET

DEMARAI GRAY has been warned it could take him up to three seasons to nail down a regular first-team place at Leicester.

The England Under-21 winger was chased by Premier League rivals Bournemouth last summer when Gray wanted more starts with the Foxes.

He was tempted by the move as Eddie Howe offered £25million rising to £30m for the starlet.

Leicester ended up tying Gray, 21, to a new deal after refusing to sell to the Cherries, who visit today.

But the forward has still not become a regular starter despite Claude Puel succeeding Craig Shakespeare as boss and giving him more game time.

He has made 26 Premier League appearances this term, but 14 have been as a substitute, and Puel admits that he sees Gray (above) as a versatile player for the foreseeable future.

Puel said: “It is a good opportunity for him to play in more positions because these players can have more game time and give more opportunities and solutions to the team.

“In two or three seasons more it will be important to keep a position and develop and improve in one position.

“But in the beginning for a young player it is good to have the capacity to play in different positions.

“He has all the qualities and attributes to play in any position, winger left, winger right, and behind the striker.”

Gray has three Premier League goals this term, but has not scored since December after a run of 16 appearances without finding the net.

Puel added: “He is a young player who continues to learn how to be consistent.

“He needs to continue to work to become more clinical. Although, he has good attributes.

“But he needs to learn step by step to have a good clinical edge in the box, to have a good final touch.

“We have time with him. He is a young player and we need to be patient with him.

“We need to manage all the players and then they need to understand that the work is the most important thing in the training sessions and also in the games.”