Leicester City prospect excited for first-team challenge after contract extended

Callum Wright is excited to take on the challenge of impressing for Leicester City in pre-season after a successful 18 months on loan at Cheltenham.

The attacking midfielder’s contract has been extended for a year and he is expected to be involved with City’s first team this summer. Pre-season training at the club’s Seagrave base begins in the final week of June.

Wright scored nine goals and provided seven assists in all competitions for Cheltenham this season, impressing in his maiden campaign at League One level. That followed a six-month spell where he helped the Robins win the League Two title.

By playing senior football for the first time, and then stepping up a level just six months later, Wright feels he has dealt well with the tests that come his way so far. And so the 22-year-old is ready to take on whatever is thrown at him next.

“I can’t wait to take on the next challenge,” he told the club. “I’m just embracing the challenges right now. For the last two seasons it’s just been challenge upon challenge and I think I’ve dealt with them really well so I’m excited to see what comes this pre-season and season.

“The opposition players (at senior level) were a lot more physical in terms of running quicker, they were more athletic, stronger. But personally, I don’t feel it was much of a difference.

“I probably took more to League One than to League Two. The ball was on the floor a lot more and having it in the air is not what you’re used to coming from a Premier League club. I found the step up to League One easier than going into League Two.”

A year and a half at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium has provided Wright with valuable experiences. He now knows what it’s like to be in an environment with experienced players, and