Jordan James names ex-Birmingham City star as the EFL's greatest ever player | OneFootball

Troy Deeney has provided plenty of iconic moments in the EFL over time

It has been an extremely difficult season for Leicester City, who saw their second successive relegation confirmed recently, piling on the misery for supporters at the King Power Stadium as they brace for League One football for the first time in 17 years.

Although many would argue that the quality residing within the squad at Gary Rowett's disposal, as well as that of Marti Cifuentes beforehand, would be enough to steer the Foxes clear of relegation trouble, such fortunes have bypassed the East Midlands club, and their situation also wasn't helped by the deduction of six points as a result of a long-standing allegation over PSR breaches from the EFL.

It remains to be seen how many of the current squad of players will remain at Leicester heading into a critical campaign when taking the club's long-term future and financial situation into account, but one who will almost certainly be heading back to their parent club without returning is Welsh international, Jordan James.

James has been a beacon of light in a challenging campaign with a double-figure tally of goal contributions, with it begging the question as to how earlier relegation would have been confirmed for his temporary employers if it wasn't for his efforts in midfield.

Having been nominated for the same award two years ago in another relegation campaign with Birmingham City that also saw him emerge with credit on an individual level, the 21-year-old was the recipient of the Championship's Young Player of the Season at the EFL Awards on April 19th, joining Frank Lampard of Coventry City (Manager of the Season) and Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney (Player of the Season) as the winner of the division's three most coveted individual accolades.

The night wasn't quite done there for James, though, as he was asked to name his EFL 'GOAT' (greatest of all time), selecting a former St. Andrew's teammate in the process.

Jordan James names ex-Birmingham City and Watford ace Troy Deeney as his EFL 'GOAT'

Since the rebranding of the EFL's three divisions as the Championship, League One and League Two ahead of the 2004/05 season, many great players have graced the turf, as well as the dramatic moments which are often reminisced about by various sets of supporters on social media.

As previously mentioned, James is currently one of the most highly-rated players in the EFL given his influence at both Birmingham and Leicester at such a young age, in between a mixed spell in France with parent club, Stade Rennais.

The Hereford-born, all-action midfielder was handed his professional debut on November 2nd, 2021 in a 3-0 win for Blues against Bristol City, before going on to establish himself as a first-team regular in a side which included Watford icon and boyhood Bluenose, Troy Deeney.

It is, therefore, rather unsurprising that James selected Deeney as his pick, saying: "I'm going to go with my boy, Troy Deeney.

"Obviously I played with him, and he's a really good guy. I'm going to go with him."

Troy Deeney will always be remembered for iconic EFL moment in Watford v Leicester play-off clash

Deeney, of course, is known as a pundit these days, but it isn't hard to see why James has backed the former striker as the EFL's greatest, having starred for the likes of Walsall, Watford and Birmingham.

This saw him net 95 goals in 237 matches at Championship level in particular, as well as 47 strikes in 165 Premier League appearances between 2015 and 2020 at Vicarage Road.

Furthermore, the 37-year-old will forever be remembered for his iconic last-gasp winner for the Hornets against Leicester in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final in May 2013, just moments after Manuel Almunia had saved a penalty from Anthony Knockaert at the other end of the pitch.

Having shared a pitch together, Deeney will certainly feel a sense of pride when watching James' performances for the Foxes this season on loan, even though the season has ended in relegation, and there is likely much more to come from the midfield ace in the coming years at club and international level.