‘Working Hard To Be In The Best Shape’

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‘Working Hard To Be In The Best Shape’

As the group begins to move towards peak fitness for the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign, a cohort of our Academy graduates talk through this season’s aims and ambitions.

2026-06-30T16:50+01:00

by Sam Jones

Published

30 Jun, 2026

‘Working Hard To Be In The Best Shape’

As the group begins to move towards peak fitness for the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign, a cohort of our Academy graduates talk through this season’s aims and ambitions.

Sam Jones

2026-06-30T16:50+01:00

‘Working Hard To Be In The Best Shape’

As the group begins to move towards peak fitness for the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign, a cohort of our Academy graduates talk through this season’s aims and ambitions.

Sam Jones

2026-06-30T16:50+01:00

‘Working Hard To Be In The Best Shape’

As the group begins to move towards peak fitness for the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign, a cohort of our Academy graduates talk through this season’s aims and ambitions.

Sam Jones

2026-06-30T16:50+01:00

‘Working Hard To Be In The Best Shape’

As the group begins to move towards peak fitness for the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign, a cohort of our Academy graduates talk through this season’s aims and ambitions.

Sam Jones

2026-06-30T16:50+01:00

It’s an exciting time to have emerged through the Foxes’ Academy. The likes of Louis Page, Olabade Aluko and Kevon Gray all earned opportunities with the First Team last term.

Jake Evans and Jayden Joseph, meanwhile, alongside Sammy Braybrooke, Will Alves, Tom Wilson-Brown and Henry Cartwright, benefitted from time away from the Club on loan.

Earning the senior experience which is vital for their development as young players, now is the time to kick on and prove the pathway to the First Team remains a well-trodden route at LCFC…

After featuring across 10 Sky Bet Championship and Emirates FA Cup matches in 25/26, versatile defender Aluko believes this is the season to step into playing regular football. Before that, however, it all starts with hard work in pre-season.

“I’m ready to get out on the grass and really excited for the season coming up,” he revealed. “[I want] more experience, more games. Last year, I played quite a bit, but not as much as I wanted. This year, I’m really trying to claim a starting place.

“The main thing is to be available, try not to get injured and make sure I’m the first name on the teamsheet. Alongside the likes of Kevon, Jayden, Sammy, Jake etc, I think this is really our time to showcase our talent and bring the Club back to where we belong.

“Some of them have gone on loan and I’ve played in the FA Cup and a few Championship games, so I’ve got all the confidence going into the League One season to showcase my talent and what I’ve got.

“It seems very positive and I feel like it’s going to be an exciting season.”

A breakout year for Page, the 17-year-old was a part of the Championship campaign as well as gaining vital minutes for the Under-21s and representing his country at Under-18s level. Recuperating after a busy season, then, was a priority, with clear targets in place for the England youth international.

“I’ve had a good time away, a good rest, recovered from the season just gone but now I’m ready to get back into it this season,” he admitted.

“Last season I was in and out of the team. It was a totally different experience going from academy players and the academy level to stepping into the professional game, but I think I’ve learnt a lot - what I’ve done right, some things I’ve done wrong.

“Over the summer I’ve worked on that and hopefully it comes to play. This season, I’d like to be a main part of the team, a main player and just play as many games as possible.

“The aim is always to get fitter and stronger (in pre-season). For me, it’s about making sure I’m better than I was last season.”

With Manager Russell Martin in place ahead of the campaign getting up and running, there’s a clean slate for the new season, something Evans is keen to make full use of.

“The summer was good,” the young forward began. “I carried on training throughout the off-season; I didn’t really have much of a break. I thought I needed to be on it for when I came back. I’m looking good for pre-season and seeing old faces I hadn’t seen for a while.

“With the new gaffer coming in, it’s almost as if you get a second chance and it’s about taking it. You’ve got to leave a good impression from the start, so that’s what I’m aiming to do.

“He’s really easy to get along with and talk to. I’ve spoken to him quite a lot. I feel like you can speak to him really easily. He’s really understanding and that’s what you want from a manager, for him to be on your side.”

Targeting more frequent playing opportunities, the 17-year-old indicated he has a clear goal to be in and around the squad following last season’s loan. Getting a taste of League One football at Northampton Town, the forward scored twice for the Cobblers during the second half of a difficult campaign.

He added: “Last pre-season wasn’t my best so this time I’m going to make that right to try and stay with the First Team. Going on loan to Northampton in January until the end of the season, it was an eye opener for me.

“No one wants the Club to go down into League One, into a position they shouldn’t really be in, but this is the best opportunity for me to try and get a handful of games, if not more, for the First Team here. I’ve got a really good opportunity and it’s about me taking it in my stride and not standing off.”

Gray signed a contract extension earlier this year, set to remain with the Foxes until 2029, and is keen to build on the connections formed within the senior squad, having been exposed to the First Team environment over the last campaign.

The centre-back commented on his involvement: “It’s been really good, I’ve had time to recover, rest and get back to it. I’m just hoping to get some opportunities to play, show my qualities which could help the team and get the Club to where it wants to be.

“It’ll be good to get to know the players a bit more. I’ve had a bit of time to get to know them from the back end of last season, so this season is about building those relationships and with the new coaching staff as well, to hopefully kick on a bit more.

“I can’t wait to dig my feet into the ground and get rolling.”

Joseph’s loan with Tranmere Rovers became an injury disrupted one, nevertheless he managed 35 appearances across all competitions, making him hungry for more as he reconnects with City team-mates and steps into 26/27.

“I enjoyed my summer, I’ve been working hard to get back,” the 20-year-old said. “At the end of last season, I knew I’d have a big opportunity coming back this season so I’ve been working hard over the off-season to get in the best shape I can.

“I’ve been looking forward to it the whole off-season. My personal aims are to push on and get as many minutes as I can and hopefully show the team what I can bring. We want to win as much as we can, hopefully be up there.

“The morale is very high. Everyone seems excited to get started and with all the other young lads coming up as well, it seems like a good group.”

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