Former Leicester City and Birmingham City striker Emile Heskey is worried that the Foxes’ board have not given manager Marti Cifuentes the squad he needs to have a chance of promotion from the Championship this season.
Back in the second tier of English football, Leicester currently sit just outside the play-off places after a mixed start to the 2025-26 campaign.
The Foxes have amassed only 17 points from 12 games, meaning promotion is far from guaranteed at this stage.
After an encouraging eight-match unbeaten run, Leicester suffered consecutive defeats last week against Hull City and Millwall.
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Concerned
A large portion of last season’s squad departed following relegation from the Premier League, including Bilal El Khannouss, Mads Hermansen, Kasey McAteer, Wilfried Ndidi, and club legend Jamie Vardy.
Summer additions were limited and mostly loan signings, including Jordan James from Rennes and Aaron Ramsey from Burnley.
Key players such as Ricardo Pereira, Abdul Fatawu, Oliver Skipp, and Harvey Winks have stayed, while 16-year-old winger Jeremy Monga has impressed with regular first-team appearances, highlighting Leicester’s continued focus on youth development.
Heskey, concerned by what he perceives as limited investment in the squad, urged Cifuentes – who was appointed manager in the summer – to give opportunities to young players, as is tradition at the club, while consolidating the team ahead of a push for a return to the Premier League next season.
“When Leicester appointed Cifuentes, and with any successful managerial appointment, you have to build a side that he wants and give him the tools to do his job,” the 47-year-old told 10bet Casino in an exclusive interview.
“He’s got a young squad, despite bringing back players like Harry Winks.”
Consolidate
He added: “He has a specific way he likes to play, and I’m not sure he’s got the squad to do that as he wants.
“I think he’s doing OK so far, but I’d like to see more young players brought through. It worked for me, Julian Joachim before that, Richard Smith too.
“That’s what Leicester should still be doing, but with Cifuentes he is finding himself constantly fire-fighting.
“I don’t think it’s a platform from which they can get promoted. I think they need to consolidate for now and see where they can build from after that.
“Sadly, I don’t think that this is the season Leicester will get promoted.”
Pressure
Turning to another of his former sides, he worries that Birmingham boss Chris Davies could face the sack if it looks like the club will miss out on back-to-back promotions.
“I don’t think he should be under pressure, but at the start of the season, the talk was that they were aiming to get back-to-back promotions,” Heskey explained. “That’s a tall order for any club, even with big financial support.
“I know Ipswich did it, but that was exceptional. If that is what is needed, you would sit down with the owners in pre-season, and right away you would know that is a very tough ask.
“Especially with the squad they have, going back-to-back, isn’t easy. But I’ve heard that’s what the owners want. Obviously, the fans want it too. So he’s under pressure now.”
Read Emile Heskey’s full interview at 10bet Casino
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