Waghorn joins youngsters on Far East tour

Leicester City's young players are set for a unique experience in Thailand and Hong Kong.

The club's academy staff and players, including Liam Moore, Tom Hopper and Henry Panayiotou, will be flying out tomorrow for the 11-day trip.

In addition, striker Martyn Waghorn is also included.

First port of call is Bangkok and a tour itinerary organised by club sponsors King Power.

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The players then jet off to Hong Kong to play in the Citibank Soccer Sevens before returning to Bangkok, where they hope to play a friendly against a Thai Premier League club.

"It will be great experience for the boys," said academy manager Jon Rudkin. "They will be able two witness two beautiful countries and see some great sights but, primarily, they are there for the football.

"It's a perfect way to finish off the season and also begin preparing for the new one ahead.

"Each player will take various things from it. For Martyn, it is a good opportunity. He did well to come back from injury and this will extend his season as regards fitness levels, preparing him to be ready for pre-season."

While in Hong Kong, City will challenge for honours in the Soccer Sevens and Rudkin believes they will relish the competition.

"There are a number of Premier League and foreign clubs taking part," he said.

"To play in such a prestigious tournament, and then have the possibility of playing a game in Thailand, will be a great experience.

"It is football on a different continent, against different styles and played in different heat. We'll be playing either early in the morning or late evening, so working around those times will be an education."

The academy team have just completed another successful season, and just failed to reach the Premier Academy League finals last weekend when they were pipped by Fulham.

Extending the season a bit further is something that does not faze Rudkin, who said: "The football season is 12 months a year now.

"The modern player has to be able to cope with these situations."

Promising young striker Jacob Blyth will join City's development squad next season, from non-league Leamington for a nominal fee.

The 19-year-old centre-forward joins the club's junior professional ranks, under the guidance of development coach Steve Beaglehole.

Blyth scored 17 goals for Leamington in the Southern League Premier Division, following spells with Bedworth United and Nuneaton Griff.

City's Andy King has been named in Wales' 23-man squad for a friendly with Mexico at the MeLife Stadium, New Jersey, on Sunday, May 27.

Wales will have one more friendly, against Bosnia-Herzegovina, in August, before their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign begins the following month.