Death, taxes and Peter Crouch: 3 takeaways from Stoke-Leicester

Demarai Gray shines again

No Leicester player can be happier with Claude Puel’s arrival so far than Demarai Gray. In only two matches under Puel, the 21-year-old has already started twice as many times as he did in eight games under Craig Shakespeare, and he’s arguably been Leicester’s best player in both.

He made their opening goal against Everton last week with a wonderful, 60-yard run and was the most consistently dangerous of their attackers against Stoke, particularly in the first half, when he was unfortunate not to pick up at least one assist after creating good chances for Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki.

His most obvious player comparison is his own teammate, Mahrez, though he’s a slightly more traditional winger, hugging the left touchline in a way his counterpart on the right often doesn’t. He had plenty of room to exploit with Stoke lining up with three at the back, and he caused serious problems for Kurt Zouma, a strong one-on-one defender.

Gray has long been touted as one of England’s most exciting young prospects, but while he showed flashes of his quality under both Shakespeare and Claudio Ranieri, he was never able to nail down a consistent starting role. Puel, it seems, has finally given him that opportunity, and the evidence so far suggests Gray is ready to take it.