GOLDEN BOY!
FOFANA COULD MAKE HIS DEBUT AGAINST VILLA AT WEEKEND
WESLEY Fofana has been “on a silvermedal route” but Brendan Rodgers will aim to make him Leicester City’s golden boy.
The 19-year-old French centre-back could make his debut for the club against Aston Villa this weekend, two weeks on from his £32 million transfer from SaintEtienne.
While Fofana arrived at the King Power Stadium as one of the most exciting young centre-backs in the game, it is a reputation he has only recently earned.
In an age where generational talents are spotted only a few years after they first kick a ball, Fofana did not enter the academy of a professional club until he was 14, having been overlooked by Marseille while representing local sides in his hometown.
He has only recently caught the eye of the national selectors too. His two outings for France Under-21s over the past week – a 5-0 rout of Liechtenstein and a 1-0 win over Slovakia – were his first appearances at any age group for his country.
Rodgers believes Fofana’s path means he will have the determination to reach the top, with the City boss hopeful of honing his talents for the Premier League.
“He’s originally from Marseille and he hadn’t been involved in any of the French national teams,” said Rodgers.
“Because of his start to the season, he’s been called up into the young French team, which is a great experience for him.
“I just feel that sometimes players develop late. I always say the silver medallists are the ones that normally come through. It’s not always the ones who are gold medallists when they are younger.
“This is a boy who has been on that silver-medal route. You can see he’s had to fight to arrive and when he’s had that opportunity to play in the first team, he’s grabbed it and he’s been outstanding.
“At 19, there’s a lot for him to learn but he’ll cope with the physicality of the game in this country no problem. The speed of it, the tactical challenges, the tempo of it will all be different to playing in France.”
Fofana was an unused substitute in City’s final game before the international break, a 3-0 home loss to West Ham.
Daniel Amartey was taken off with a hamstring injury in the second half.
If he is unavailable for this Sunday’s clash, and if Rodgers sticks with a back three, Fofana could get the nod.