New Leicester signing Demarai Gray given England boost by former boss Gary Rowett

LEICESTER have bagged a future England international in £3.75 million winger Demarai Gray, according to the boss who sold him.

 

Leicester's Demarai Gray has already represented England at U18, U19 and U20 levels

 

But the Birmingham manager Gary Rowett admits 19-year-old Gray will have to learn some new tricks to succeed in the Premier League.

“I think he has certainly got the potential (to play for England),” said Rowett.

“One of the components of the modern winger is the ability to go past people and the ability to make things happen in games. He does that.

“Whether he starts games or comes on as sub in the Premier League I see that as no different and he can be equally as valuable because he goes past people and any type of player he can go past.

 

“The challenges are going to be little bits to his game and adding that ability to maybe open up on to his left foot and cross balls in early, adding the ability to maybe get into goal-scoring positions when the ball is on the other side that perhaps sometimes a winger doesn't do.

"He has added a lot of defensive qualities to his game this season which is something we have worked on because again in top teams you have to do everything. At teams like Crystal Palace their wingers are almost marking the opposite wingers at times and leaving the back four in the box to defend.

“You look at Jamie Vardy and I know it has been overly documented at times, but the hunger and desire he shows every game to work for his team and not just get into goal-scoring positions. If you could combine those two players... Wow you would have some player!”