While Steve Cooper will undoubtedly be fully committed to Leicester City’s immediate goals, it is wise for any manager to look ahead.
Naturally, Leicester City’s top goal this season is to just stay in the Premier League; Steve Cooper hasn’t been able to lead the team to victory in the top division thus far.
The previous season’s promotion-winning manager, Enzo Maresca, left for Chelsea, taking Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the top player for Leicester, with him. It was a busy summer at the King Power.
The loan departure of 20-year-old Brandon Cover to Port Vale is one piece of summer business that might have gone unnoticed until Cooper arrived and made nine additions.
Brandon Cover, a Leicester City loanee, receives great feedback at Port Vale
Cover has only made one senior appearance for Leicester, playing in the team’s 3-0 FA Cup victory over Birmingham City in January. He can play right-back or defensive midfield.
Cooper approved the Jamaican’s loan move to League Two Port Vale, where he has started all three league games since joining, as first-team participation is doubtful this season.
Manager of Port Vale Darren Moore started Cover at right-back, where he faced August’s League Two player of the month, winger James Berry, and assisted his loan team to a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Chesterfield.
Following Cover’s performance, Moore was gushing about him to Leicestershire Live, saying, “I think we have a really good player, a quality player.”
“I thought that Berry received excellent care from him; he never gave him a moment of quiet. That’s what Brandon is capable of. However, he also brings that confidence and serenity to the ball.
But the most important thing about him that I can tell everyone about is how modest a person he is. That enhances the persona and conduct we value at the club.
“We are really happy to have him here, and he can feel really pleased with his performance.”
Cover might be Leicester City’s long-term Ricardo Pereira replacement.
The lack of Ricardo Pereira in Leicester’s starting lineup has been one of the team’s early surprises this season.
Pereira has mostly sat on the bench as Cooper has chosen to start James Justin at right back and Victor Kristiansen at left back.
Pereira may outlast the Welsh manager at the club, depending on how this season plays out, but at thirty, he is not going to last forever.
Therefore, Cover could prove to be the ideal successor to Pereira at right-back for the Foxes if he can maintain his impressive play while on loan and gain crucial experience.
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