Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley believes Premier League giants Leicester City are thrilled with the way George Hirst is performing on loan at Fratton Park, speaking to The News.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s rapid rise at the King Power Stadium should offer plenty of encouragement to young Hirst as the striker looks to force his way into Brendan Rodgers’ first-team plans.
Dewsbury-Hall shone on loan at Luton Town last season.
And the cultured central midfielder has since been rewarded with an enhanced role at his parent club, featuring six times in the Premier League and on a further three occasions in the Europa League.
After a sluggish start to life on the South Coast, 22-year-old Hirst is starting to make a name for himself at Portsmouth.
The former England U20 international, who was linked with Leeds, Everton and Manchester United before joining Leicester in 2019, opened his account in Pompey colours recently and impressed against former employers Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
Does George Hirst have a future at Leicester City?
“Sheffield Wednesday was George’s best home performance in the league this season,” says Cowley, the one-time Lincoln and Huddersfield Town boss.
“George is doing well, we’ve got him going with belief and confidence, which is so important to footballers. We would like to keep George for the rest of the season, absolutely we would like to.
“However, you don’t always have full control of their loans, you are always respectful of the parent club’s wishes.
Hirst has started every one of Portsmouth’s last five League One fixtures, his longest run in the first XI.
“I think Leicester are happy. We speak to Leicester weekly, we send them all the numbers, all the stats, and the little details, and I think they are pleased,” Cowley adds.
“George’s attitude and work ethic throughout, even when he’s not been playing, has been outstanding. He’s a really good kid.”
With Patson Daka making his mark, Kelechi Iheanacho featuring and the evergreen Jamie Vardy chuckling in the face of Father Time, it remains to be seen whether there is a place in Leicester’s first-team plans for Hirst.
Despite some impressive recent displays, he’ll need to improve on a tally of two goals in 19 games if he wants to catch Rodgers’ eye.
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