Leicester City will have a new weapon in League One - attacker could explode into life | OneFootball

Leicester's back-to-back relegations could open the door for 17-year-old frontman Jake Evans to make a first-team impact

There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding how Leicester City will operate next season following their relegation to League One.

Unlike the four other sides who went from the Premier League to the third tier in successive years, the Foxes were on the brink of breaking into the traditional top flight's 'big six' mere years before their downfall, and a lot more money has been pumped into the club than those who have sunk before.

With their squad being mainly made up of players who, a little under two years ago, were lifting the title, questions are being asked about who will stick around and how big a rebuild will need to be done at the King Power Stadium.

But, with relegation comes new opportunities, and with the Category 1 Academy at Leicester, numerous up-and-coming youngsters could force their way through the rubble left by a broken squad and into contention for next season in the third tier.

We saw glimpses of the talent Leicester had on display towards the end of their Premier League campaign last season, when relegation was confirmed, and this season, the likes of Jeremy Monga and Louis Page have broken into the fold.

Jake Evans could have a breakout season at Leicester City in League One

Granted, some of the young players who have had Championship exposure this season may have some second-tier suitors looking to take advantage of Leicester's situation in the upcoming summer window, but one man who will likely be sticking around is Jake Evans.

The 17-year-old frontman has been with the Foxes since he was eight, and has an exceptional scoring record at youth level, netting 13 in 20 PL2 games over the past couple of seasons.

He made the odd cameo appearance last season, but this year, he didn't get off the bench in the Championship before being sent out on loan in January.

Evans joined Northampton Town, who are likely to finish the season propping up the third tier, and as is always the case for a young, inexperienced striker in a poor team, it's been difficult, and chances have been sparse compared to his time in youth football. Of his 14 league appearances, the Cobblers have picked up just one point.

But, he's still managed to score a couple of goals, and two good ones at that; finishing well with the outside of his foot against Wigan Athletic on Easter Monday and then last weekend at Cardiff City, drilling one from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Those glimpses of quality should be making Leicester fans pretty excited to see what the 17-year-old can do both with more development and exposure to men's football, but also in a better team, which you'd expect the Foxes to be next season.

Leicester City shouldn't rest all attacking hopes on Jake Evans, but he would be an exciting option to have

Ultimately, Leicester need that Jamie Vardy replacement up front, as they failed to find it this past summer. But while Evans should find himself involved more, he shouldn't be the only new line-leader in the first team squad in the off-season.

The youngster has shown promise and will put in more eye-catching performances at a top team for the level, but to rest a promotion bid on a 17-year-old's shoulders may be a step too far.

What Leicester shouldn't be looking to do, though, is to leave him on the sidelines for prolonged periods, or even send him out on loan to a lower-end League One side or a League Two outfit, as he'd be a great player to have in the squad for whoever takes the reins in the summer.

With numerous new faces set to arrive at the King Power to replace those who will see themselves as above League One-level, having a homegrown talent involved, one who knows the surroundings already, and one who could have a real breakout year next year, could pay dividends.

And if the Foxes can bring in a top senior striker who is capable of leading the line sufficiently in the third tier, Evans would be ready to learn and work off of him as he starts to fully realise his potential in the senior side.