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More Leicester City academy prospects are likely to make debuts next season if the club qualifies for European football, with manager Brendan Rodgers still favouring a smaller senior squad.

Young midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made his first senior appearance for the club last month and others are expected to follow in his footsteps if City stay on course for a Champions League spot, with Rodgers knowing he will need to rely on development squad starlets to compete across four competitions.

Rodgers prefers a small squad, and while he would want to bolster his options in the summer, he only wants a 25-man senior side, with three goalkeepers and 22 outfield players.

Premier League rules mean clubs can only register 25 players aged 21 or over, but City could feasibly have more and use them exclusively in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europe.

However, Rodgers will not go down that route and will instead call on City’s youngsters.

City have used 23 players in all competitions this term. That is three fewer than Manchester City, who have fielded the fewest number of the seven English clubs in Europe this season.

The average number of players used by the seven clubs is 31.

“Twenty-five players is fine,” Rodgers said at the end of last month.

“You know throughout the season if you get European football and want to challenge in the cups, you need everyone.

“I’m happy with the number in terms of the squad. We’ve been very good with injuries. With 22 players and three goalkeepers, that’s plenty.

“I’ll always look within as well for young players. If we get European football next year, the plan would be, going forward, to hopefully give more opportunities to some of the younger players.”

Over the past five seasons, six academy graduates have made City debuts, Dewsbury-Hall following Joe Dodoo, Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, Josh Knight and Hamza Choudhury.

Players used by English clubs in Europe 2019-20

Liverpool – 44

Manchester United – 34

Wolves – 32

Tottenham – 29

Arsenal – 28

Chelsea – 27

Manchester City – 26