Versatile and capable of playing at a higher level - what's been said about Portsmouth target and Leicester defender Josh Knight

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A versatile talent who’s capable of playing at a higher level.

That’s how Josh Knight has been described during his career, with Pompey interested in signing him this summer.

The Leicester man has spent the past one-and-a-half seasons on loan at Peterborough where he’s made promising progress.

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The 22-year-old first moved to London Road in January 2019, a month after winning the Premier League 2 player-of-the-month award for the Foxes’ under-23s.

While he got injured on his debut against Oxford, it was Knight's coming-of-age performance at Fratton Park that earned him rave reviews from Posh fans.

In the Blues’ infamous 3-2 loss to Peterborough last season, which ended their League One automatic promotion hopes, Knight was at the fulcrum of his side’s display when utilised in a holding-midfield role.

Peterborough Telegraph reporter Alan Swann rated his performance a 9/10 as he helped frustrate Kenny Jackett’s men.

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Knight underwent pre-season training with Leicester last summer before he again rejoined the Posh – much to manager Darren Ferguson’s delight.

Josh Knight in action for Leciester under-23s. Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesJosh Knight in action for Leciester under-23s. Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Josh Knight in action for Leciester under-23s. Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

‘We spoke to Josh at the end of the season and said that we would keep an eye on his situation because we felt he coped well at our level in both the position of central midfield and central defence,’ Ferguson told his club’s website.

‘We said that we would let him do the pre-season with Leicester because we knew it could be a possibility and I am delighted to get it over the line.

‘He knows the club, he knows how I work and what I want from my players and he knows a lot of the lads so I have no doubt he will hit the ground running. His versatility is important and I believe it is a really good signing for the football club.’

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Knight was a regular for Peterborough this season when fit. Before suffering a setback in November, he started 15 matches and was a key cog.

The Athletic wrote a piece on the on-loan Foxes man in October, with Ferguson lauding his ability.

The ex-Doncaster boss predicted Knight would play higher up the Football League pyramid and how he’d be interested in signing the versatile ace on a permanent basis if he wasn't in Brandan Rodgers’ plans at the King Power.

‘He has outgrown that under-23 level now. He is ahead of that and needs to be playing league football,’ Ferguson told The Athletic.

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‘We hope we can help develop his career and if he can break through into Leicester’s first team then great. If not then perhaps we will look at doing something with him on a permanent basis.

‘At the moment it is about him getting games. He is coping at this level and he can play above this level, there is no question of that.’

In total, Knight scored three times in 26 appearances for Peterborough this term.

His final outing was in the Posh’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Pompey on March 7.

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