MX23RW : Monday, May 20 15:31:56| >> :120:12165:12165:

Brendan Rodgers backing Harvey Barnes to become 'top player' in coming years

Brendan Rodgers backing Harvey Barnes to become 'top player' in coming years
© Reuters
The 23-year-old Leicester forward scored 13 times in all competitions in 2020-21 season.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has tipped Harvey Barnes to become one of England's best players in the next few years.

Barnes signed a new four-year deal with his boyhood club on Thursday after a superb 2020-21 campaign in which he scored 13 times in all competitions and made his England debut before a knee injury cut short his season.

And Rodgers feels there is more to come from the "humble" 23-year-old, who has been at the club since he was eight years old.

"He's obviously had wonderful support from his parents and the club and both of those have always looked to develop his talent," Rodgers said ahead of Monday's Premier League game at West Ham.

"I believe he's going to become a really, really top player in these next few years.

"When I came in you could see the talent but he needed to score more goals and week by week he started to do that.

"Unfortunately we missed him an awful lot at the tail end of last season but he's come back, he's getting fitter and over the next few years he's going to turn into one of the countries top talents.

"I think the only thing that will stop him will be availability. If he can stay injury-free, get that little bit of luck, you can just see his game coming together

"He's got that hunger and is gaining confidence all the time. What's great about Harvey is he's a very humble boy, he doesn't get carried away with it. He comes in with a wonderful attitude.

"I'm absolutely delighted he's re-signed, I think he's enjoying it here. He's a really clever boy, very coachable, and he's hungry to be the best player he can be and that's the type of player and person you want to work with."

Rodgers was also full of praise for veteran striker Jamie Vardy after the 34-year-old scored the winner against Wolves on the opening day of the season.

"He's a brilliant player," Rodgers added. "He looked great over pre-season, went into the game last week and his running, his penetration, his pressing – everything what's good about Jamie was there.

"And that opportunism, how he reads it, gets across the post and gets that touch and finish was sensational, so hopefully many more of them goals over the course of the season."

Leicester remain without Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans and Ryan Bertrand for their trip to the capital.

Fofana suffered a fractured fibula during a recent friendly against Villarreal, while Evans is still recovering from a foot problem as he targets a return after next month's international break.

Bertrand is ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19 ahead of the game against Wolves, but Timothy Castagne is available following an eye injury.

ID:460096:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3623:

Click here for more stories about Brendan Rodgers

Click here for more stories about Leicester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Phil Foden pictured on November 8, 2020
Read Next:
Phil Foden in line to make Man City return against Leicester
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!