Lot more goals, Marc my word
BARNES AND DAKA WILL BENEFIT FROM THE TEAM’S DESIRE TO BE MORE DANGEROUS IN ATTACK
LEICESTER City hero Marc Albrighton has backed team-mates Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka to get more goals and assists next season than last, writes Luke Pawley and Joseph Chapman.
Both players have scored two goals each in pre-season so far, building not only fitness but momentum for the new season.
With City’s lack of activity in the transfer market, current players will be under pressure to step up a level and Albrighton believes both Barnes and Daka can do just that.
There is collective effort from the team to be more dangerous in attack and score more goals, something which Rodgers and his players have been working hard on in recent weeks.
“The manager has put a lot of onus on scoring more goals, creating more chances and being more of an attacking threat,” Albrighton told LCFC TV after the 4-0 victory against Hull City.
“He’ll be more than pleased with the clean sheet and being able to take that into the weekend.
“Harvey will be full of confidence now after scoring a couple of goals, and Patson the same.
“They’re top talents and I know the manager works closely with them to get their numbers up.
“It’s important they continue to develop and listen to what the manager’s saying.
“They can go on and score a lot more this season, and create a lot more chances.”
When asked what Rodgers will expect from Saturday’s games against Preston and Derby, Albrighton made it clear that, while fitness is important, it is not the sole focus of the squad at this stage of the summer.
“He’ll say minutes, but he’ll want two wins as well,” Albrighton said of Rodgers.
“Pre-season’s about fitness but we’re getting to the stage now where we need to instil this winning mentality and take positive performances into the new season.”
Albrighton also reckons Gareth Southgate will have to sit up and take notice of City’s glittering array of young England stars by the time the Qatar World Cup swings around in November. reckons winger Marc Albrighton.
Barnes and James Maddison, who in particular caught the eye as the Foxes put the Tigers to the sword, have intense competition in their particular area of the pitch, as does young full-back James Justin, who was involved in England’s Nations League campaign in June.
Then there’s Kiernan DewsburyHall who, having broken successfully into the first-team last season, looks a fixture in Brendan Rodgers’ top flight set-up.
“Without doubt, we’ve got some incredible young talent here,” Albrighton said.
“The manager is more than willing with all the opportunities. I think the main case is JJ and how he has progressed since coming to the club.
“Madders will be eager to get in, Barnesey. All those players will be itching. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had a brilliant breakthrough season last season.
“If he can continue to play the way he has, he’s a hard-working boy, he’ll be champing at the bit to get into the squad as well.
“That can only be a big positive for Leicester City with everyone fighting for Gareth Southgate’s squad.”
Albrighton believes the collective quality of the 2022 squad is as high as it’s been at any point in the last few years.
“It’s good to be a part of,” he added.
“The quality we’ve got in the squad now, don’t get me wrong we’ve had some brilliant players at this club in the last few years, but some of the quality now... I see it in training every day.
“It’s got better and better as each year has come and gone. It’s a pleasure to be here and a pleasure to be playing with them all.”