Hong Kong Sevens Squad Announced

Drawn in Group A, City will face fellow Barclays Premier League outfit Newcastle United, Singapore Cricket Club and Hong Kong outfit BC Rangers. 

After a successful U21 Premier League campaign and a fine Premier League International Cup run all the way to the semi-finals, 10 members of the Development Squad have now been chosen to participate in Hong Kong. 

Jonny Maddison – Goalkeeper – Age 22 

A talented goalkeeper, Jonny Maddison has made five appearances for City’s Under-21s this campaign. His key attributes are his athleticism and intelligent distribution, making him a fine all-round shot-stopper. 

Alie Sesay – Defender – Age 20 

A full Sierra Leone international, Alie Sesay has played nearly every game for the Under-21s this season, notching up 26 appearances in all competitions. Naturally a centre-half, Sesay can also operate in midfield and at right-back. The Academy graduate put in some solid performances in this competition in 2014, and will hope to continue that form in his third Soccer Sevens tournament. 

Callum Elder – Defender – Age 20 

Callum Elder can play at either left-back or centre-back and spent the second half of the 2014/15 season on loan at Mansfield Town. Helping secure the Stags their League 2 status, Australian youth international Elder will now head out to Hong Kong for the second year in a row to help bolster the Foxes’ defence. 

Joe Davis – Defender – Age 21 

Joe Davis, a powerful central-defender, joined from Port Vale in the summer of 2014, and has since made 13 appearances for Steve Beaglehole’s outfit. Davis scored his first goal of the season against Liverpool last month, and is certain to be a physical presence among City’s back line. 

Jak McCourt – Midfielder – Age 19 

Academy graduate Jak McCourt often acts as a guard in the centre of midfield, breaking up much of the opposition threat. A danger from set-plays, McCourt can also find the back of the net from distance, having scored spectacularly from 30 yards against West Ham United on the last day of the 2014/15 U21 Premier League campaign. McCourt enjoyed a successful spell in midfield in last year’s Hong Kong Soccer Sevens and will again look to impress at the end of this month. 

Jack Barmby – Midfielder – Age 20 

Jack Barmby made his international debut for England Under-20s in March, as well as spending time on loan at Championship outfit Rotherham earlier in the season. Barmby will add pace to City’s forward line, and is certain to be a threat from wide positions. 

Kris Scott – Midfielder – Age 20 

Joining Leicester from Swansea City last summer, midfielder Kris Scott is most comfortable in the centre of the pitch. A highly-rated USA youth international, Scott’s range of passing and superb first touch is sure to help City keep hold of the ball in Hong Kong. 

Joe Dodoo – Forward – Age 19 

Winger Joe Dodoo finished as the Under-21s’ second highest top-scorer in the 2014/15 season with eight goals in all competitions. Another lively wideman, Dodoo’s acceleration and eye for goal will add plenty of threat going forward. Dodoo’s ability shone through in last year’s tournament, and with a productive run of games behind him, he’ll again look to impress in Hong Kong. 

Harry Panayiotou – Forward – Age 20 

In-form striker Harry Panayiotou notched an incredible 11 goals in 10 games in between February and April, earning him the Barclays U21 Premier League Player of the Month award for March. Scoring a hat-trick for St. Kitts and Nevis in March, Panayiotou became the first ever Leicester City player to net a treble on the international stage. He earned the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens Player of the Tournament award when City won the competition back in 2013. 

Simonas Stankevicius – Forward – Age 19 

Frontman Simonas Stankevicius is another full international, having represented Lithuania on a number of occasions since making his debut in 2013. A powerful striker with superb aerial ability, Stankevicius played against England at Wembley in front of over 80,000 people in March, as well as notching up 20 appearances for City’s Under-21s this season.