Need the latest Foxes transfer news? Get FREE email alerts for Leicester City FC Sign up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

When it comes to developing and nurturing young talent, there are not many better managers in the game than Leicester City boss Claude Puel - and that’s a fact.

Financial Times have done statistical analysis of the managers from the top five leagues in Europe and looked at who has given the most minutes to under-23 players since the 2008-09 season - Puel came out on top

The figures showed 28.9 percent of the total game time given by Puel during that period was to under-23 players.

This was better than Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino, who was second on 26.7 percent, current Borussia Monchengladbach coach Dieter Hecking, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

In comparison, Tony Pulis, currently manager at Middlesbrough, only gave 3.6 percent of game time to under-23s during the same period.

The most famous youngster Puel has developed is Eden Hazard, who he blooded in the first team at Lille.

Since arriving at City, he has given mopre opportunities to Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray, while Hamza Choudhury, Harvey Barnes and George Thomas have also been included in first-team squads.

Some of City’s emerging young talent could be involved again when City take on Peterborough in the FA Cup fourth round at London Road.

“For me, it is important always to try to develop young players,” explained Puel. “If they have the quality it is not a problem to give them game time and to improve with them.

“At Leicester, it is important for me to try to develop some young players for the club for the future of course.

“I am lucky because in my former clubs a lot of players became international players for their country.

“It is a good thing for them and the club and for my staff.

“The most important thing is to continue this work with Leicester.

“It is not easy to try to play young players because, of course, they do not have the experience and sometimes they can play at a different level. But we have to try to have patience with them to develop them if we believe in them.

“It is a philosophy but to have the results at the same time is difficult.

“We need to have the good balance between young players and experienced players.”

Puel admitted he could play some of the youngsters against Posh but his priority was still to get City through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Advancing in the competition will give Puel more opportunities to blood young players and he described progress as ‘the winning ticket’.

“It is important to pick a team to win and to continue this competition, that is the objective for us,” added Puel.

“We know we have a good squad and a good chance in the cup. If we have success it is more games to develop those players and use the squad in the future.

“I think it is a good competition and it is perfect for all the players to have some game time and continue this work to develop them.

“It is important also for the club because if we develop some young players it is good for the future. It is the winning ticket.”