AFTER Reggae Boy Dujuan “Whisper” Richards’ professional debut for Leicester City on Saturday, interim head coach Andy King has praised the attacking player’s versatility and believes he can thrive in the league.

Richards, who sealed his loan move from English Premier League club Chelsea last week, came on as a 77th-minute substitute in Leicester’s 1-2 loss away to Birmingham City in the English Championship.

The 20-year-old Jamaican only managed to touch the ball four times in his 18-minute spell on Leicester’s right wing, but mainly due to Birmingham having the man advantage with Reggae Boy Bobby Reid sent off after 32 minutes.

Richards, after the defeat, in a post on his official Instagram account said, “Disappointed but not discouraged. We go again Tuesday night.”

It was Richards’ first taste of first-team football, having spent the last three seasons in Chelsea’s under-21 set-up. He also became the 12th Jamaican international to play for Leicester City, joining the likes of former captain Wes Morgan and current Reggae Boyz teammates Reid and Demarai Gray.

The Leicester coach expects Richards to play a big role in the weeks to come due to his bright potential.

“When you have the physical attributes that Dujuan has, you can play anywhere. When you’ve got that much pace and power you can play anywhere across the top line — because when you’re quick and powerful you’re going to cause defenders problems with the ball in behind or anything like that,” he said.

Jamaica Reggae Boyz winger Dujuan “Whisper” Richards applauds travelling fans after making his Leicester City debut in their 1-2 defeat away to Birmingham City in the English Championship on Saturday.

“He would see himself as someone who plays off the right. We’ve brought him in as someone to play in that position, but also someone who can operate anywhere across the front line and give us a bit of variation as well. He’s really exciting — he’s got a hammer left foot. He can come on and change games and [offers] something a little bit different.”

However King says Richards, who has two goals in 14 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, will have to adapt to Leicester’s tactical system if he’s to achieve maximum success.

“He has talent — a huge amount — but we’re going to have to teach him the game out of possession, what we expect of our wingers when the opposition [has] the ball,” King said. “He’s going to have to learn a little as he goes. We can’t teach him loads about the Championship without putting him into the environment.

“We can have as many meetings and one-to-one sessions with him about the Championship but he’s going to learn to thrive in the environment by being put in those situations, by being given those minutes, and then seeing how he copes,” he added.

Richards could be in line to make his home debut and first start on Tuesday when Leicester host Southampton at King Power Stadium.

Leicester, who received a six-point deduction on Friday after breaching the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules during the 2023/24 season, are currently 21st in the Championship table on 32 points. Their goal difference separates them from the Blackburn Rovers who are in the relegation zone in 22nd place.