Leicester City Faces More Exits as Russell Martin Reshapes Squad

Leicester City boss Russell Martin says the club must brace itself for more exits as he reshapes a squad suddenly living in League One reality.

Wout Faes and Stephy Mavididi were the most obvious signs of that shift. Both played through pre-season, Mavididi even starting the EFL Cup win over Northampton a week earlier, yet neither made the squad for the opening-day draw at Notts County.

For players that prominent to be missing on day one tells its own story.

Faes and Mavididi on the brink

Martin did not dress it up. Interest is strong, bids have already come in, and Leicester are planning as if they will lose both.

"I think we're navigating and managing change in the best way," he told BBC Radio Leicester, underlining that the pair remain professional and involved in training.

"They've been really respectful, I think we're treating them with respect. Whilst they're here, they train, they're involved. We just feel that for us, we have to be prepared to be without them."

Leicester have already rejected offers for both Faes and Mavididi, but the head coach expects the situation to rumble on through the window.

"We've turned down bids for both, but that's ongoing, so we'll see, but I'm not sure any will go soon," he said.

So they stay. For now. But every team sheet between now and deadline day will be read with one eye on the market.

Late blow exposes young Foxes’ nerves

On the pitch, Leicester were minutes from a perfect start to life in the third tier before an 81st-minute Notts County equaliser punctured the mood at Meadow Lane.

What should have been a statement away win became a reminder of how fragile a young side can look when tension creeps in.

Martin put the late setback down to anxiety and a drop in composure on the ball.

"I think that's the biggest learning for us," he said. "If we don't look after each other with the ball like we didn't in the last 20 minutes, the game becomes like that and it doesn't suit us."

The pattern was clear in his mind. A couple of nervy moments, the ball turned over too cheaply, and Leicester never regained control.

"It's the only frustration and it's because we have a couple of moments that make us anxious and we don't play with anywhere near enough intensity and detail with the ball in our half and it keeps coming back."

The pressure told. The win slipped.

Young core, missing experience

Martin, though, refused to dwell on the dropped points. He liked much of what he saw, not least from the bench, where forward Admir Bristric came on to make his debut.

"I'm really happy with the group we have, genuinely," he said. "They're really young, you saw that at the end. With Admir, the front three was really young."

That youth brings energy and fearlessness, but Martin knows League One demands something else as well: know-how. Players who have ridden out tense finales and killed games when the momentum turns.

"So we could probably (do with) a couple of guys that have been there and done it to help us manage a game in that way," he admitted, while stressing there is "nothing imminent in the next day or two" on arrivals.

Leicester’s rebuild is already stripping back a Premier League-era squad to something leaner, cheaper, and hungrier. Faes and Mavididi may be the next to go. The question now is whether Martin can add the hardened heads he wants before the window shuts, or whether this young group will have to grow up the hard way in League One.