'Test Yourself' – Ewing's Pre-Season Optimism
- Midfielder Oliver Ewing catches up with LCFC TV during pre-season training
- The Leicester City Development Squad midfielder has been training with the senior side this summer
- Ewing, a Wales youth international, believes those experiences are already improving him
- He also outlines his wider ambitions ahead of the 2022/23 campaign
The Wales youth international shone for the Club's Development Squad last term as the side, coached by Ben Petty, finished eighth in Premier League 2 Division 1, just three points off a place in the top four.
This summer, Ewing has trained with Leicester City's first team alongside several of his Under-21s team-mates and, after returning from an injury sustained at the end of last season, the 19-year-old has been revelling in the experience at LCFC Training Ground.
"It’s been really good, a really good test," he told LCFC TV. "We had a nice few weeks off and, coming back, it’s been hard and intense. It’s been fun as well, but it’s been very intense. It’s been enjoyable. It’s nice to have a break but I think, once you get past the two-week mark, you want to be doing stuff.
"You feel like you need to be doing stuff, so it is nice to be back and, of course, seeing the boys is always fun. For me, I was playing catch-up a little because I had a month or so when I was injured towards the end of last season. I was trying to get my level back up to where it was.
"I think I’ve done that to an extent and I’m now just building on that. I’m quite happy with where my fitness is now but it can be better so I’m just looking to improve that now."
Ewing believes he has already learned invaluable lessons from training alongside members of Brendan Rodgers' senior set-up this summer. He also revealed to LCFC TV how each and every young player afforded with that opportunity has been doing their best to impress.
"It's been really good," the combative midfielder added. "I was in and out last year a few times, but to get a good couple of weeks of consistent training [with the first team] has been really good.
"With the level and the intensity, you can’t get away with being half-hearted in training, you’ve got to go full out in every single session, so it’s really good. You’ve got to find that next level and you’ve got to push yourself. You’ve got to raise your game to what’s around you, so it’s good.
"You’ve got to test yourself anyway, of course, but when you feel like you’ve got nothing left, you’ve got to find something just to push yourself over the line because you know there’s people watching. It’s only been two weeks, but I feel like I’ve picked up quite a few things.
"Hopefully I can add that to my game this season and push on."
Naturally, Ewing hopes to stake a claim for a place in the senior squad this coming season, but his first priority is continuing to shine with the Under-21s.
"Personally, I’d want to be pushing the first team, of course, like anyone would want to be," he explained. "I just want to make sure my game is the best I can and just push myself. I don’t want to leave anything behind. I'll do my best with the Under-21s to try and put my name in there in the first team.
"It was a young group last year so I think we did well considering the age group. We were only a few points fourth or third, so it could have looked a lot different. We're looking, this season, to just finish as high as possible because we know we can do it.
"It’s just about doing it this year. Especially towards the end of last season, I think we found that chemistry within the group. We really got along off the pitch as well, so if we can build on that, we can push on this season."