Leicester City academy stalwart Trevor Peake is stepping away from the club with three homegrown players in the first team.

But the retiring Under-18s head coach said that could have been only two, with the “penny dropping” just in time for midfielder Hamza Choudhury.

Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes, and Choudhury all came under Peake’s tuition during the coach’s 17-year spell at City, which also saw the likes of Andy King, Liam Moore, and Jeff Schlupp progress through the ranks and into the first team.

Peake, a member of Coventry’s 1987 FA Cup-winning side, is now leaving the game for good having had a lasting impact at City. He is delighted with the trio in the first team, but particularly Choudhury, who he says did not demonstrate the true extent of his talent in training during his younger days.

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“Those three have shown they have the ability to play at the top level, which is terrific, because it’s a very, very high level now,” Peake told Training Ground Guru.

“Barnesy and Hamza have been with us since they were nine years old and Ben came in a little bit later from MK Dons. They all had talent, but in the end it’s not the most talented, technical kids who make it – attitude and application is far in front.

“Some of those things maybe came a bit later in Hamza’s career, because he was one of the ones who didn’t always train to the best of his ability, but the penny dropped in time for him to make a real mark. And what a lovely fella he is, by the way.

“You have to appreciate the work that people have done to get them in the position they are now. I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about the U10 coaches, the U11 coaches, the ones who you never hear about.

“To have the impact those lads did at U18 level and onwards, they had to have been very well coached throughout the club. Players need to be brought forward earlier than they were in years gone by. “They have to be very technically proficient, able to play with both feet, from 12, 13, whereas it used to be 15 or 16.”

The coronavirus pandemic means Peake’s final season at the club has been cut short, with the Under-18s’ campaign curtailed with four games remaining.

But the 63-year-old says he will be back at the training ground as soon as possible to watch the next generation, with City putting out an advert for his replacement.

“I prefer walking quietly out of the back door without anyone noticing,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to going to the new training ground and having a look round there and watching some games. What a great experience that will be. I’m sure I’ll go back to watch some of the games, especially the 16s and 18s and maybe the reserves.

“I’ve been so fortunate to continue with something I’ve loved since I was six or seven years old. And I’ve been paid for it, too. How mad is that?”

And Peake leaves with the best wishes of City’s academy manager Ian Cawley.

“Trevor is a very genuine person who always puts the best interests of the lads at the heart of everything he does,” Cawley said.

“Part of our process in coach development is to interview the players about the coaches. What they all say is that when Trev speaks, they listen. We have a strapline of ‘men of integrity’ at the academy and Trevor personifies that.

“Any player who has come through our system over the last 15 years, Trevor will have been a big part of their career path.

“Trev will be sorely missed, but I hope to still get him around and about to pick his brains.”