Gary Rowett: 'Demarai Gray can make big impact for Leicester City'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 06 January 2016

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett admits that new Leicester City winger Demarai Gray still has a lot to learn, but believes that he can be a success in the Premier League.

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has backed Demarai Gray to make a "big impact" for Leicester City having joined the Foxes earlier this week.

Leicester activated the 19-year-old's £3.75m release clause to clinch their first signing of the January transfer window, with the highly-rated youngster available to make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Rowett, who played for the Foxes from 2000 to 2002, believes that Gray has the tools to challenge the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton for a place in the side, but admits that the teenager is not yet the finished product.

"He has certainly got the quality. I think he is going to have to add things to his game, which you would hope Leicester can do, and the experience of someone like Claudio Ranieri would be able to add to his game," he is quoted as saying by PA.

"It's going to be a tough challenge. He is an eye-catching player. If he starts games or if he comes off the bench for 20 minutes I am sure he can have a very big impact for them.

"It is a very different challenge. A lot of game intelligence is required to work out different ways to beat players, different ways to gain a little bit of space. You have to work a little bit harder."

Leicester currently sit second in the Premier League table, just two points off leaders Arsenal.