Taylor: Leicester loan important for Mace’s development | OneFootball

Gareth Taylor believes Ruby Mace’s loan to Leicester City will help aid the young midfielder’s development.

The 19-year-old completed a temporary switch to the Foxes during the January transfer window – linking up with Willie Kirk’s side until the end of the season.

So far this term, the versatile teenager has made five appearances in all competitions after being held back by an injury sustained on international duty with England Under-19s earlier this campaign.

And Taylor stressed the importance of her gaining consistent first team minutes at the King Power Stadium.

“Well I think it is [important for her development,” Taylor said.

“It gets her a lot more game time, unfortunately for the first third of the season she was injured [which was] picked up on international duty with England.

“It was just difficult then for her to get the minutes she required. This was probably an easy fix for her going out to play at Leicester.”

Mace made her Leicester debut in an FA Cup defeat to Reading on penalties.

And, although Leicester currently sit 12th in the Barclays Women’s Super League table, they have significantly improved since Kirk’s arrival at the helm.

Under the former Everton chief, the Foxes won his first league game in charge 3-0 against Brighton to boost their survival chances.

Following that win, they proved a stern test for City in our final group stage game in the Continental Cup as we edged to a 1-0 victory.

And Taylor believes the environment at Leicester makes them the perfect fit for Mace.

Taylor added: “We know the club, we know Willie [Kirk].

“We’ve had good conversations about what we see being an ideal scenario for Ruby, to see the best of her.

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“He’s on board with that. And I think that’s really important to have that conversation with the coach to find out what their plans are for a particular player.

“Once you know that the player gets an opportunity to play, they still have to earn the right, I think that’s really important – and Ruby knows that.

“I think the conditions are really good for her.”