Leicester City academy graduate Hamza Choudhury spent last season on loan with Watford in the Championship. His return to the Foxes’ fold could be a big boost for new boss Enzo Maresca.
Deemed surplus to requirements by Brendan Rogers at the beginning of the previous campaign, Choudhury dropped down a division in search of regular game time.
Following the Foxes’ relegation, the midfielder now has a massive opportunity to establish himself as a regular at the King Power Stadium.
The 25-year-old knows exactly what it means to ‘be Leicester’ having already racked up 84 appearances for the club. A member of both the FA Cup and Community Shield winning squads, Choudhury has also featured nine times for the Foxes in the Europa League.
He has tasted success for the East Midlands outfit before, and he is certain to be hungry for more this season with Maresca’s squad touted as the clear favourites to lift the Championship title and secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
An England Under-21 international, also eligible to represent Bangladesh or Grenada, Choudhury made 37 appearances for the Hornets last season as he firmly established himself as a first team regular, only failing to start matches in which he was ruled out due to injury.
It was a disappointing season for Watford as they finished 11th in the league table, six points adrift of the play-off spots, in what was one of the most competitive second tier campaigns we have witnessed in a very long time.
What next for Choudhury?
The disappointment of failing to achieve what was set out for the Hornets last campaign, which was no doubt securing promotion, will fuel the midfielder to make sure the same does not happen again with his boyhood club.
With Wilfried Ndidi likely to depart, it leaves new addition Harry Winks and French ace Boubakary Soumare as his rival contenders for a defensive midfield position in the squad.
It will certainly not be a walk in the park to establish himself as a Leicetser regular this season, however, with the talent he possesses he is more than capable of making a mark.
Choudhury’s contract is set to expire next summer, so it is now or never for the academy graduate to earn his stripes with the Foxes.