Gray: I had to up my game at Leicester

Demarai Gray was perhaps the only real highlight for Leicester City last season, and the 21-year-old winger says he had to become more consistent to make an impact with the Foxes.

Leicester’s defence of their incredible Premier League triumph was far from perfect, with manager Claudio Ranieri sacked after a woeful first half of the season.

But Gray seemed oblivious to the club’s problems each time he came onto the pitch, offering youthful exuberance and fresh enthusiasm that lifted the crowd.

And the former Birmingham City youngster admits he is loving life in the east Midlands.

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

“It’s the Premier League, it’s another level,” he said.

“Everything is nice and close because it’s quite a small city, so everyone is involved and the fans are good too.

“The facilities here (Belvoir Drive) and at the stadium are good and I’ve got what I need to develop.

“At the time Leicester were second or first in the league so I thought there was something good going on here.

“It’s close to home, which is perfect, and meeting up with Claudio Ranieri at the time was good, because he did a lot for me to make me the player I am now.

“I thought it was the right time for me to step up to a bigger stage and I couldn’t turn it down.”