STEARMAN LEADING THE YOUTH BRIGADE
After Richard Stearman's impressive first start for Leicester City, there could be more where he came from - but only if the team hits a winning streak.
The 17-year-old Stearman was pressed into service as an emergency right-back in the absence of Chris Makin in the defeat by Reading and, while he was left out of Friday's draw at Forest, his promotion to senior level underlines boss Craig Levein's eagerness to get some young blood on the scene.
His first sight of City at Cardiff prompted the misgivings that there was a distinct lack of younger players coming through the ranks.
Levein missed Stearman's appearance off the bench at Ninian Park as the manager-elect had already left, but he immediately noted down that an influx of youth was a priority.
But he also knows that he must try to handle the juggling act of short-term results with long-term team building.
He said: "There is a lot of work to be done on that side of things.
"There are one or two other youngsters that might have possibilities and it is something we want to beef up to give us more strength in depth in the youth teams, not just the under-18s but the sides below that in the weeks, months and, possibly, years to come.
"When I arrived, Richard Stearman was one they all talked about and we see him more as a full-back than centre-back where he is less likely to be out-muscled. He is certainly a good user of the ball, he has got potential.
"Stephen Dawson has been in and around the squad because we like his attitude, he is a bit of a terrier, and Alan Sheehan, a left-back, has done quite well. "As we start to look and recognise a bit more we see more there to work with.
"What we need to do now is try to focus our attention on these lads and try to improve them.
"We still do not have strength in depth. These three I have mentioned are below Jordan Stewart's age of 22 and that is not a lot for a club this size and it is something we will be looking to improve on."
More breakthroughs might have to wait until City are in their stride and gaining more consistent results.
Levein said: "Generally, I like to put in the younger players when the team is on a high and the others round about them are settled in their positions. So it would be a bonus if we get a good run going because then we can have a look at these sort of things.
"At the moment, it was more through necessity that Stearman played rather than us thinking he was desperately knocking at the door ready to play.
"We took a chance and it worked from the point of view that he did not let us down, which encourages me to have him around and maybe to put him in again if need be."
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