“ The inside story on New Player Will Alves “

NEW LOAN SIGNING WILL ALVES SIGNED ON LOAN TILL THE END OF THIS SEASON:




Left Winger.


Will Alves still a relative unknown to Bluebirds supporters.

With that in mind, expert insight of Jordan Blackwell, the Foxes correspondent for our sister title LeicestershireLive.

Will Alves needs to now regain his fitness and will need time.

Here's what he had to say.





"He grew up in Leicestershire and has been in the club’s academy since he was a boy. It was when he was around 15 that his name started to emerge as one to watch and very quickly from there he made his senior debut aged 16.“

"He was dancing around Watford players twice his age in that game and the hype among Leicester fans really grew from there. I think internally there was the perception that he was the best prospect the academy had produced since Harvey Barnes, and potentially with the talent to even exceed him.“


"It’s now been three years since his senior debut and his progress has obviously been stunted by his injury.”

“He’s been very slowly eased back in, sometimes to the frustration of supporters, who have been clamouring for him to be given more senior opportunities."


On 21 December 2022, Alves suffered a torn ACL in the second half of extra time in a 3–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup.

The injury was caused by a foul from Caden Voice and caused a public outcry. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers called the challenge "one of the worst I have seen".


Alves returned from injury in the EFL Trophy match at Fleetwood Town in November 2023.[3]

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WILL ALVES:


- He suffered a nasty injury while playing for the academy - a torn ACL in December 2022. How has that impacted his trajectory or the player or person he is today?





"It does not feel an exaggeration to say he’d have played plenty more Leicester matches by now had he not suffered such a bad injury. But 12 months recovering did allow him to bulk up and when he came back, possibly because of his age as well, he looked a lot physically stronger, and more difficult to push off the ball.”


"Watching his performances this season, both for the under-21s and as a substitute for the first team, it felt like he needed a loan spell in the summer. They tried to find him one, but Steve Cooper said none of the clubs that came forward were the right fit, so they chose to keep him.”

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WILL ALVES:



“Alves has not played all that regularly for the under-21s either.”

“And so when he has played, he’s seemed to lack a little bit of rhythm. What he needs is the challenge of regular senior football, and if he gets consistent minutes then I’ll think he’ll blossom."





More broadly, can you tell us what type of player Cardiff fans can expect? Do you think it’s a good move for him?




"He’s very tricky and he’s got very quick feet. When he’s in full flow and he’s ducking and weaving past defenders, that’s when he’s at his best. He wants to get on the ball and he wants to beat his man.”

"He’s typically played as a central attacking midfielder, but it seems Ruud van Nistelrooy sees him as a winger, most likely on the left and cutting in onto his right foot.”

“For the under-21s, he has played deeper in midfield too, but more so that he could improve some facets of his game. He’s definitely best higher up the pitch.”

WILL ALBES:





"It seems a good move for him, yes. He needed that challenge of playing senior football and while going to a promotion-chasing League One side may have allowed him to show off his flair a little more, I think going to Cardiff will be better for his development, even if it’s a bigger task to ensure he plays every week."







- What is his biggest strength and what would you say is his biggest weakness?

"His footwork is definitely his biggest strength. He can be mesmerising. Patience will be required at first though, before he gets to that stage, just because of his lack of football this season. But he will commit defenders and that should open up space for himself and others at the top end.”

WILL ALVES:





"Always with an attacking player, there’s scope for improvement with their goal involvements. He does need to deliver more goals and assists.

"On his debut three years ago, Brendan Rodgers told him he’d substitute him if he kept hogging the ball and he has been guilty of that with the under-21s too, just keeping hold of it for too long. There’s a balance to strike there as he needs to do what’s right for the team, but equally he needs to be encouraged to be brave."

All sounds very positive, hopefully he can fit into the team. We've desperately needed pace all season.

Him, Salech and Mannsverk should all start in the cup game at Stoke.

All sounds very positive, hopefully he can fit into the team. We've desperately needed pace all season.

Him, Salech and Mannsverk should all start in the cup game at Stoke.

Ned,

It sounds like he was real class reminds me of Lennon from West Ham.
But this time it looks like he’s recovering faster and healing better.

We've been wanting a player with ability to beat players up front and to make chances for Robinson salech ect for long time now.....

From what they are saying he sounds a great prospect for Leicester but needs time to get back into form. I am sorry we don't have time. We have 16 games left and too many of our new signings haven't played much football for whatever reason. We needed at least 2 of these signings to be automatic starters from day 1.

I’ve been having a look at a number of Leicester City forums and their fans all believe that he should be in their first team.

Fast, tricky and a great talent. Seems to have recovered well from his injury.

If anything most of their fans are disappointed he came to us.

It’s a win win for Leicester either way.

He will be in their first team next season when they get relegated