Barnes: We Know How Good We Can Be

- Harvey Barnes looks ahead to Sunday's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion (2pm kick-off)
- Leicester City return to Premier League duties after opening their UEFA Europa League campaign
- The Foxes played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Napoli on Filbert Way on Thursday night
- Barnes is excited by the opportunities ahead of City over the coming weeks on three fronts

Leicester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Napoli on Filbert Way in the group-stage opener of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with Barnes himself among the goals for the Foxes. Next up, though, it's Brighton at AMEX Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday (2pm kick-off).

Looking ahead to the resumption of City's top-flight campaign, the Academy graduate is excited by what sits on the horizon as Premier League duties are combined by European football and the beginning of their Carabao Cup bid at Millwall next Wednesday evening.

"It was a tough game in midweek for us but we’ve had a look afterwards and there’s so many positives to take from it," the 23-year-old told LCFC TV earlier this week. "We’re going into it full of confidence.

"We got the two goals in the game and we created so many chances, so we’ll go to Brighton thinking more of the same is going to come and hopefully we come away with three points.

"We know how good our squad is and how many problems we can cause the opponents when we’re at it, so we’ll be going there full of confidence. Hopefully we’ll get a few goals and come away with three points."

Barnes was thrilled to open his account in front of goal in 2021/22 and, after missing the end of last season due to injury, he's revelling in the opportunity to showcase his talents once again.

"It was something I had in the back of my head, to get my first goal of the season, after obviously being out for a little while," he added. "It was important and it’s a little bit of a weight off the shoulders. Hopefully that can kick me on now for the rest of the season.

"After being out for a long period, in the off-season, you feel yourself getting back fit and then you’re eager to get out on the pitch, so the first few games have been great to get back out there.

"You feel part of the team again and you feel yourself getting sharper and fitter and these European nights, where we’ve got a full crowd and it’s a great atmosphere, it does make it that little more special. Hopefully we’ll have a lot more of those this year, more goals and a lot more wins to celebrate."

With a busy schedule ahead, Barnes says all of Leicester's players are ready to play their part, proven by the several encouraging performances from players who came into the XI for Thursday's European thriller against Napoli. That depth can help the Foxes progress this year, he believes.

"It’s becoming the busy part of the season where you’ve got midweek and weekend games," City's No.7 continued. "We’ve got such a strong squad, we’ve got so much quality throughout, so there will be a lot of rotation.

"Whoever comes in, the manager and the team have full confidence that they’re going to bring so much quality. Now it’s about the recovery, getting ready for the next game, and going into each game looking to win. You saw against Napoli, we changed things and we created a lot of chances.

"Obviously, the week before that, it was a different front four, so the lads are all patient and ready for whenever they get their chance to come in and show the manager, the fans and the team what they’re all about and bring that quality in. It’s exciting times."