Alves, 16, may get call up to the first team

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Will Alves is among the young players who could be called up to Leicester City’s depleted first-team ranks against Watford today, writes Jordan Blackwell.

The attacking midfielder, above, who has been fast-tracked through to the Under-23s this season, has been training with City’s first team and is likely to be involved in the matchday squad at the King Power Stadium today.

City boss Brendan Rodgers has been forced to call upon the starlets with potentially 17 outfield players unavailable.

Alves was one of six development squad talents to be pictured in firstteam training yesterday.

If the 16-year-old was to make his debut against the Hornets, he would be the eighth youngest player in the club’s history.

The last time City fielded a 16-year-old was in April 2007, when left-back Joe Mattock was given a debut by then-boss Nigel Worthington.

Alves, a silky, tricky, forwardthinking midfielder, has been involved in England youth teams and has been rising the ranks quickly in City’s academy, making four starts for the Under-23s this term.

Of the other five players seen in training, there are two who already have senior experience under their belt, and three more who would be making debuts.

Right-back Vontae DaleyCampbell started in the FA Cup win over Brighton last season, and did the same for the Carabao Cup tie with the Seagulls.

Attacking midfielder Kasey McAteer was handed his first-team debut last month for the final 10 minutes of the 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle.

Centre-backs Ben Nelson, 17, and Lewis Brunt have been among the substitutes in recent matches and may be nearing their debuts.

Completing the line-up of young players is central midfielder Sammy Braybrooke, another local youngster to rise through the academy.