Leicester City have unearthed an abundance of talented youth stars in recent years and Amani Richards could be the latest to break into the first-team.
With Leicester displaying a rich history of producing talent through their academy, including Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes and current first-team star, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, it is no surprise to see more youngsters stake their claim for a senior call-up.
Dewsbury-Hall has been the Foxes’ best player this season having plundered six goals and seven assists in 22 appearances, with the latest of those strikes coming in the dramatic 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
After playing regularly in the Premier League term, the 25-year-old has established himself as a crucial cog in Enzo Maresca’s winning machine whilst the Englishman’s rise to first-team stardom has Richards dreaming of achieving similar success.
Who is Amani Richards?
A highly-rated attacker, who was poached from Arsenal’s academy in January 2022, Richards has become one of the tantalising prospects in Leicester’s underage groups.
Operating down the right flank or as a striker, the 19-year-old scored an eye-watering 18 goals and supplied six assists for the Foxes under-18s.
He even returned to haunt his old club in their under-18 meeting against Arsenal in March, scoring both goals for the Foxes in a 2-1 win as scouts from Newcastle and Brentford were sent to watch the sensational teen, and they wouldn’t have been disappointed with what they saw.
After his exceptional form saw him step up to the under-21’s last term, Richards has since firmly established himself as an influential player in Ben Petty’s side, netting twice and assisting four times in eight Premier League 2 appearances this term.
The next target on Richard’s agenda is breaking into Maresca’s plans.
Can Richards break into Maresca’s first-team this season?
During his time at the club, Maresca has shown he isn’t scared to throw talented youngsters into the deep end having watched academy graduate Kasey McAteer flourish in the early parts of the season.
The 22-year-old had rarely featured in the first team before this season, but the English grabbed the opportunity presented to him with open arms by plundering four goals in his first five Championship appearances.
Although a hamstring injury has prevented him from continuing his exceptional form in front of goal, the Italian reaped the rewards for giving McAteer a chance and a similar narrative can unfold if he does the same with Richards.
As the famous Sir Matt Busby once said, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ and it seems only a matter of time before Maresca unleashes his precocious talent onto the rest of the Championship.