Won’t Define Our Season But – Gary Rowett Surprised On Leicester Star

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Leicester City boss Gary Rowett has admitted that Jordan James’ numbers have surprised him, but was careful to add that that alone will not define the Foxes’ season.

 

James joined Leicester on loan with an option to buy for a reported €5m from Rennes, as the Foxes saw off competition from Ipswich Town and Wrexham.

 

The midfielder has quickly become influential in Leicester’s squad, as James finds himself as the top scorer with the Ghanaians Abdul Fatawu and Jordan Ayew trailing.

 

 

Rowett praised James for making himself a key fixture in the side amidst the quality that is present throughout the Foxes squad.

 

Admitting that even he has been surprised that Leicester have been so reliant on James for his goals, Rowett refused to concede that their season will be defined by his output.

 

 

Rowett said in a press conference (10:00): “I think he’s crucial.

 

 

“I think when you look at him as a top scorer as an attacking midfielder.

 

 

“I think clearly you can see the quality that he’s got in terms of shooting, arriving, scoring goals.

 

 

“It’s surprised me in some ways that the team has struggled to score goals when you look at the quality that we’ve got in the team overall and you look at the quality in forward areas.

 

 

“Okay, we perhaps lack a certain different profiles in some of those areas but it does surprise me that JJ’s  been so important in terms of because you know he’s been out there as a top goal scorer, but that’s what it is.

 

“That’s where he’s been. And he’s a player that I worked with before, so I know his qualities.

 

“I know the energy he can bring and the danger he can bring from those positions.

 

“So look, I don’t think it’s going to define our season, but I think he’s certainly a key player and I think that’s a real feather in his cap that he’s coming to a club like this after his experience abroad and become a key player in a team of this quality.

 

“I think that’s that shows you where he’s heading and it shows you what he’s about as a footballer and what he possesses.”

 

James started Wales’ World Cup playoff semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina, before being substituted off to see Edin Dzeko equalise and his side face elimination on penalties.

 

He missed the subsequent friendly against Northern Ireland, but Rowett clarified that the injury was not as ‘sinister’ as initially feared once the club had a chance to assess James on his return.  

 

The Foxes are a point adrift of Portsmouth, who have a game in hand, with seven games left to play in the Championship.

 

Former Championship defender Erik Pieters agrees with Rowett’s point about the quality in the Leicester squad but stressed ‘they are there for a reason’, hinting that they might not be playing as a team.

 

Leicester, who had James on the radar even during his Birmingham City days, will hope that they can make the move permanent in the summer with the midfielder playing a prominent role in their survival.

 

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