Leicester City’s Mirsad Ali has been named as one of the Premier League’s brightest prospects as the club look to develop another left-back into a first-team star.

The 16-year-old, who grew up in Braunstone, has been named as one of the 20 youngsters to watch as part of The Guardian’s annual Next Generation series. One first-year scholar is selected from each Premier League side, with Ali the City prospect chosen for 2022.

An England youth international, Ali joined City at Under-10s and is now a member of their Under-18s squad, playing three of their four fixtures this season. The Guardian describe him as “athletic, comfortable in possession and a set-piece specialist.”

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If Ali makes progress up the City ranks, he could become the latest in a run of full-backs to make the grade. Since Ben Chilwell rose through the club’s academy to become an England international and £50m player, City have also promoted Luke Thomas into their first team, while Calvin Bassey has become a Champions League player with Ajax via a spell with Rangers.

City’s academy has been on a hot streak of late, with Harvey Barnes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also graduating from the academy and becoming key players in the first team. Will Alves and Wanya Marcal-Madivadua also made their first-team debuts last season.

The Guardian’s Next Generation series is now in its ninth year, with Hamza Choudhury the first City player selected in 2014. Among those also picked have been Darnell Johnson, now playing with League One side Fleetwood, as well as Shane Flynn, Oli Ewing, Kian Pennant, and Chris Popov, who are playing for City’s Under-21s or Under-18s.

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