Kasper Schmeichel is sitting in the press room at Leicester City's training ground when one of the academy kids walks in. He looks at Schmeichel with a hint of awe. He is a polite lad so he asks if it is OK if he gets a hot chocolate from the machine. Schmeichel nods. The boy leaves as fast as he can, stealing one last glance at the goalkeeper as he leaves.

Schmeichel is one of the most respected members of the Leicester team who, against all the odds, will go back to the top of the Premier League if they beat champions Chelsea at the King Power Stadium on Monday night. He is one of the senior pros in a side winning new admirers every week, a brilliant goalkeeper who provides a comfort blanket for an attacking team.

He is one of the cornerstones of a team who have become the story of this season so far. He is one of the biggest reasons for their success. He is Denmark's No 1 as well. At 29, he is approaching his prime. He is a husband. He is a father to two children. He is, actually, one of the most mature, articulate footballers you could wish to meet.

Despite his success with Leicester City, Kasper Schmeichel is still often compared to his legendary dad, Peter

Schmeichel's performances have helped Leicester become the surprise Premier League package this season

However, at the age of 29 - the Leicester goalkeeper is still compared to his father - much to his annoyance

Not everybody sees that, though. Many still look at Schmeichel and see 'Son of Peter'. Son of the legend. Son of the Manchester United Treble-winner. Son of the man who was one of the biggest personalities in English football. Sometimes, people try to make a joke about it, usually at Kasper's expense. His career, still, is a voyage round his father.

Often, Schmeichel shies away from talking about it. People say he clams up when you ask him about his dad. They say the shutters come down. Maybe that is because he feels he cannot win. If he complains, maybe people will say he is spoiled.

Or maybe, especially with Leicester riding high, they will see that Schmeichel's career deserves to stand on its own now. Maybe they will see that he has already had a fine career, that he is established as one of the best players in the world in his position.

Today Schmeichel is happy to discuss it. The shadow of his father, he says, is not fading away as he establishes himself as a star in his own right. It is getting longer.

'It's getting worse and worse every month,' says Schmeichel. 'I thought it would get better. I don't know why. For some reason, people are more interested in it than ever. Some people, they say exactly what you said, "I don't mean to ask you, but…" And everyone does it.

'It's been no help whatsoever in my career. It's been quite the opposite, I feel. I think I would have played longer in the Premier League if that wasn't the case. The issue is that I am 29, I am married, I have two kids, but people still see me as someone's son. They still see me as a child.

Peter Schmeichel (centre) became widely-regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world at Manchester United

Schmeichel (bottom left) as a kid poses for a picture with his father, during the latter's time at United

'People are surprised when I say I am 29. They're like, "Really?" One day, maybe when I am 40 and hopefully still playing, then I might be considered a mature enough person.

'I have never seen the interest in it. It's probably because I'm in it. I can't see what the hype is, what the interest is. For me, it's completely boring. It's irrelevant. People will talk and will compare. That's their prerogative but to me it's irrelevant.

'Everyone thinks it makes it easier but it doesn't. My world, the world that I have grown up in, is very different. I have had intrusions from the outside since the day I was born because of my dad. Always wanting to talk to you. A lot of players only get that when they turn pro so the first 18 years of their life were the same as any other person's.

'I have had it from my first memories. For me, it's a thing that has made me very guarded around people. I might not be very approachable because through my whole life, from when I was eight years old, I had people camping behind my goal and hearing the whispers, 'It's Peter Schmeichel's son'.'

People do not whisper any more. They engage in 'banter' instead, that wonderful word that is used to try to camouflage casual insults or clumsy attempts at humour. Schmeichel - and his dad - have had enough of it. 'They think it's fun,' he says, 'but with me it's just not fun any more.'

Schmeichel (right) kept his third clean sheet of the season in Leicester's 3-0 win at Swansea on December 5

The day before Leicester's 3-0 away win over Swansea last Saturday - Schmeichel's third clean sheet in his side's last six league games - the team were checking in at the Marriott Hotel overlooking Swansea Bay when a fan asked Schmeichel for his autograph. Schmeichel is a naturally obliging, friendly man. He signed the book.

'The guy said, "You're doing well, you'll never be as good as your dad, though",' says Schmeichel.

'I said, "Thank you, mate, cheers".

'"Oh, come on, I'm only having a laugh."

'I said, "Well, have you had your laugh? Are you fine? Good. Can I go now?"

'"It's not meant like that", the guy said.

'I said, "Well, explain to me, what is it then?"

'"I was just having a laugh".

'I said, "Mate, you don't think I've heard that before? I've heard that for, what, the last 15 years. Well, you've had your laugh. So can I leave please?"

'It turns out like that a lot. People, I don't know why, they can't just come over and talk to you, they have to try and have a laugh.

'"Great save the other day. I think your dad would have caught it, though".'

'"Brilliant. Cheers, mate",' I say.

Schmeichel feels he is old enough and has proved himself several times to step out of his father's shadow

'Maybe they think it gives them an intro. I have always let it slide, let it slide, let it slide but I have reached the point in my life where I am 29-years-old, I'm a father. I think, "No, I'm not going to let it slide any more".

'My dad hates it, too. And he's ruthless. We were out for dinner a couple of weeks ago and some guy came over and shook his hand and said, "You're a legend, mate. Your son's doing well but he'll never be as good as you".

'My dad looked at him and said, "Just go. You're going to come here and insult my son and think you're going to get away with it?" It's got to a point now where if you're going to talk to me, talk to me. Don't come and try and have a laugh and try and half-insult me. I'm happy to talk to anybody but do it in the right manner. I'm not going to buy into it any more.

'My dad was always guarded with that type of thing. He tried to shield me and my sister as much as possible. And I am exactly the same. My wife hates that life. She doesn't live that life. I don't want my kids exposed to that kind of thing.'

Schmeichel is one of the leaders of the Leicester team now. That was evident when the squad flew to his home town of Copenhagen last week for a pre-Christmas trip. They have been to Dublin and London in the past. This time, it was a meal in the Tivoli Gardens. Schmeichel had hoped to take his team-mates on a few rides in the funfair but the press arrived and ended their fun early.

Leicester players pose for a picture during their fancy dress pre-Christmas trip to Copenhagen last week

Everyone wants to know about Leicester all of a sudden. Jamie Vardy's remarkable goal-scoring run that ended one shy of Jimmy Dunne's all-time English record of finding the net in 12 consecutive matches is one of the great stories of the season. Leicester sitting on top of the table after 15 games, having scored more goals than anyone else in the division, is another.

There is nothing arrogant about this Leicester team or their self-effacing manager, Claudio Ranieri, but there is great confidence. Schmeichel says there is no wonderment in the squad about the position they find themselves in. There is no surprise.

He is relishing the run the team are on, too. This is a player who has seen the other side of football, who has played for Darlington, Bury, Falkirk, Cardiff, Coventry and Leeds as well as Manchester City. When he couldn't get in the City side, encouraged by one of his mentors, the then City goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers, he travelled Britain in search of a game.

He was the opposite of the guy who was happy to sit tight and take the money. 'I hated not playing,' he says. 'I hated getting to a Saturday and not having a game. For me it was about playing. I had missed playing. I had been starved of football for so long that I didn't really care where I played. I just wanted to play football.'

So it is impossible to begrudge Schmeichel his success now. 'There is no feeling of disbelief about our position in the league,' he says. 'You would probably expect there to be but the way we have played since the turn of the year, we have been a good team. We have a team spirit here that is very rare, I think.

Schmeichel (left, pictured in 2007) broke through at Manchester City but failed to become first-choice there

Now at Leicester, Schmeichel believes their team chemistry off the pitch is a key to their success on it

'Modern football many times gets completely lost in possession. We are different. We don't really have a lot of possession. When we get the ball, we are quick and we are attacking and we go for goal every single time. If nothing else, we are entertaining.

'It's a lot of players coming together at the right time, not just football-wise but personally as well. We are similar age groups, a lot of us have played here together for three or four years, the likes of Jeff Schlupp, Andy King, Danny Drinkwater, Matty James, myself, Wes Morgan, there are lots of players, Jamie Vardy.

'We genuinely have a good time when we are travelling to games. The bus or the train is never quiet.

'You are getting players around about the same age, the same situation in their personal lives with families and children, which gives us a lot in common.'

A couple of days ago, Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez dismissed the team's chances of winning the title and reiterated the idea that the target of a club who battled relegation last season is to reach 40 points, the total generally agreed to constitute safety.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has enjoyed a stellar personal season with the Foxes so far this campaign

The 28-year-old (right) scored in a record-breaking 11 successive Premier League games for Leicester

Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez has established himself as one of the club's key players this season

The Algeria international has dazzled with his performances as the Foxes sit second in the league table

Schmeichel is more upbeat. 'You have got to dream big,' he says. 'We are where we are and that is great. If we aren't going to believe we could win the title, then who is? I'm not saying we do believe that but you are allowed to dream and I definitely dream of that. I don't see it as impossible because of the way we have played over the last six or seven months.

'We are a good, good team. We are a good club. We are a well-run club. We have momentum, too. We have players with flair and players with pace. We have five of the top 10 quickest in the league. It's difficult to play against. The way we have played over the last few games, if we keep playing like that, who knows? The sky's the limit.

'It's no fluke we are up there because we have been consistent over a long period. The hunger is the most important thing, the hunger to keep going and keep working. If we can keep that going, we have the quality of player that can turn games, so who knows?

'Our aim is 40 points and if we get there, we reassess. We are not getting carried away but we have to keep going. Whether we can win the title or go top four or top six, time will tell. But we have the belief that we can do something special.'