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Demarai Gray’s development is no longer at a standstill and Brendan Rodgers is predicting the winger to make “big strides” over the next few seasons.

Gray has been Rodgers’ go-to man off the bench in recent weeks as Leicester City have recorded four straight Premier League wins to enter the November international break in second place.

The 23-year-old wide-man has been effective in his cameos, producing an eye-catching display in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Rodgers says Gray has responded well to their conversations, and to the “hurt” he felt when he was left out of the matchday squad for the opening two games.

“I’ve always really liked Demarai as a player from the outside looking in,” said Rodgers. “But he’d gone through a period where he stood still in his development.

“When I came in he probably expected to be either playing or at least in the squad. And when he wasn’t in the squad for the first two games of the season it hurt him – but he knew why. I think that’s important. Giving clarity to players is very important.

“From that he’s been absolutely brilliant. He upped his intensity in training and we speak a lot in terms of what we want from him.

“I told him not to be too down – I know he wants to start but the game is also about the team that finishes. He has to make sure he is ready to make an impact. And he does that.

“He is so good in training and he’s in an environment where he’s improving all the time. I just think over the next few years there are big strides that he will make.”

Rodgers also rejected any suggestions that Gray had an attitude problem.

He said: “He is a good guy. He’s a wonderful boy, he trains every day and is really professional.

“But my job is to rinse more out of that and to push them, not let them become comfortable.

“I didn’t want him to be a player who could be in and around a mid-table Premier League team and maybe nick a move somewhere else.

“Our job is to develop players to be the best and to grow – and try and help this club get up towards the top. So there’s no ego at all. I repeat, there are no guys here with an ego.”