Assessing How City’s Under-18s Have Fared In 2021/22

City sit fifth in the Premier League U18 South standings after six games of the season, with 12 points collected from a possible 18. Only goal difference separates Leicester from fourth-placed Chelsea, while there’s a three-point gap to top-of-the-table Fulham as things stand.  

Responding well to a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season, the Under-18s claimed all three points away at Brighton & Hove Albion a week later, also recording a first clean sheet of the campaign in the 1-0 success.

A second successive win – and first on home soil – was secured against Reading as second goals of the season for both Kian Pennant and Jack Butterfill helped the hosts come from behind to triumph 2-1 in Seagrave.

The team’s only other defeat this term arrived away at West Ham United in September, during which Chris Popov got off the mark for the season but could prevent the visitors falling to a 3-1 reverse.

Back-to-back league victories followed, with Chelsea impressively beaten 1-0 at LCFC Training Ground, ahead of another three points and shutout against Southampton a week later, in 3-0 triumph.

Popov’s brace on the south coast took his league tally to three for the season, while Pennant also added his fourth goal of 2021/22 to lead Leicester’s scoring charts after matchday six.

In the U18 Premier League Cup, meanwhile, the young Foxes got off to a perfect start with a 3-1 home win over Newcastle United last Friday, courtesy of goals from Abdullah Javid, Brandon Cover and Jack Butterfill.

It leaves Leicester second in Group A, level on points with leaders Nottingham Forest ahead of matchday two, which sees the side coached by Adam Barradell travel to tackle Southampton at Staplewood Training Ground on Friday (1:30pm BST kick-off).