Jordan James, who joined on loan from Rennes in the summer, is making an impact on the pitch, but also has the personality off it that Cifuentes is looking for
Marti Cifuentes applauds the Leicester City supporters after the 3-1 win over Derby
Marti Cifuentes applauds the Leicester City supporters after the 3-1 win over Derby(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Jordan James is the blueprint for future Leicester City signings with the loanee midfielder making a fantastic impact on the pitch and possessing the right personality off it.
James has perhaps been City’s player of the season so far, netting his fifth goal of the season at Derby to lead their scoring charts while contributing all over the pitch with his all-action displays.
While he is only a loanee, with City possessing an option to buy him from French side Rennes, fans have taken to him strongly, and his name was chanted throughout the 90 minutes at Pride Park.
He’s not only been a big hit with supporters, but with Marti Cifuentes and the City squad too. The manager said he’s the exact type of person that he wants at the club.
“He’s a fantastic guy for us,” Cifuentes said. “He’s a fantastic addition. He’s young but he’s really showing he cares, that he wants to play for Leicester.
“You can see on the pitch his energy and he’s the same off the pitch, a very good guy with his feet on the ground and working really hard every day.
“That’s the kind of personality that we really want to have at the club. The group is happy to have him here.”
James’ best performances have come as a box-to-box midfielder, but injuries have seen him sometimes play further forward.
Cifuentes knows where he can make the biggest impact and is hoping to keep Bobby De Cordova-Reid fit, and get Aaron Ramsey back from his hamstring injury, so that James can remain in his best role.
“He was exactly the kind of number eight we wanted because he’s a player who can do the box-to-box job, but as well he’s good on the ball, he can break lines, and defensively his work-rate is very high,” Cifuentes added.
“We have been using him sometimes as a 10 because of the injuries of Aaron and Bobby, but we know that when he plays as an eight he’s a very important player for us. Louis (Page) has the potential to be a similar player in terms of most of the skills.
“Hopefully Aaron will be back soon and will help us a lot as well. He (James) has definitely been a good addition for us.”
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