Brendan Rodgers has hailed the “quality” performance of Leicester City debutant Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during Wednesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal while speaking to the Foxes’ official website.
On a night in which many of Leicester’s second string failed to impress, at least the 22-year-old academy graduate looked the part in his first appearance at the King Power.
Dewsbury-Hall was a picture of confidence and composure in the middle of the park, producing a performance that belied his inexperience at senior level.
The Leicestershire-born midfielder barely put a foot wrong despite his side crashing out of the cup at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. He showcased the kind of intelligent, considered passing that fits Rodgers’ possession-based blueprint like a tailored blazer
“I thought he grew into the game. It’s always difficult in that first game when you’re playing against a really good opponent,” Rodgers said of a youngster who shares similarities with his former Swansea City lynchpin Joe Allen.
“I thought his confidence grew as the game went on. He’s got a lovely left foot, he works hard and showed real quality.”
While Dewsbury-Hall caught the eye, the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Demarai Gray and an out-of-sorts James Maddison struggled to test Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno during a performance lacking in thrust or creativity.
Thanks to an unfortunate Christian Fuchs own goal and a late Eddie Nketiah clincher, it’s Arsenal rather than Leicester who could be taking on Liverpool in the fourth round next week.
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