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The day Leicester lifted the Premier League title in May 2016 was one James Justin will never forget - although not for the obvious reasons.
When Wes Morgan and Claudio Ranieri hoisted the trophy aloft, Andrea Bocelli belted out ‘Nessun Dorma’ and the impossible seemed possible, 69 miles down the M1 Justin had just made his professional debut for his local club, Luton, as an 18-year-old in a League Two game against Exeter.
Nearly five years on, Justin is now living his own dream with Leicester in the Premier League. He is arguably the club’s player of the season, operating in a number of positions and performing so consistently that manager
Brendan Rodgers is backing him to eventually play for England.
“I was astounded when someone told me I made my debut on the same day as Leicester winning the league. It’s crazy,” he tells
Telegraph Sport. “At that time I was only thinking about Luton, and staying in their team the next season. I wasn’t thinking about any other club, I was only focused on being picked the next week.
“You see the pictures around the stadium of players like Wes lifting the trophy and it’s what you dream of, growing up. We’re trying to get back to those heights that team reached and we’re on our way there.”
Justin, 22, epitomises the youthful exuberance of Rodgers’s Leicester which has helped them threaten the established elite. Equally comfortable on the right or left, defending or attacking, his progress over the last 12 months has been startling, and necessary.
The loss of Ricardo Pereira with a serious knee injury in March was a severe blow, but
Justin’s emergence has ensured that the Portuguese’s absence has not proved so damaging.
Justin has played every minute in the league so far this season, and scored an outstanding goal in the FA Cup victory at Stoke last weekend. His versatility has surprised even himself.
“I’ve played in the right of a three at the back, right wing-back, left wing-back, right-back and left-back. I also played on the wing in one game, so it’s really nice that the manager trusts me in those positions,” he says.
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“He can put me anywhere and knows I can perform to a good level. Maybe I can play in midfield in the future when my legs go! I’d give goalkeeper a good shot but I might struggle because of my height.
“The target in the summer was simply to play as many games as possible and keep improving. I struggled when I first joined, the jump in quality was massive, but I feel I’m now at their level.”
Justin has benefited from the support of his manager Brendan Rodgers CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
When asked who his toughest opponent has been this season, he does not hesitate. “Son [Heung-min], definitely. He’s not just got pace, he’s got a lot of intelligence when to make his runs and is definitely someone that I love playing against. I have to be aware of where he is all the time.”
Justin,
who joined from Luton in a £6million deal in June 2019, highlights the influence of Pereira, another player equally adept in both defence and attack, and it will be a nice dilemma for Rodgers when he returns to full fitness, after a recent setback.
“Ricky is one of the best full-backs in the world and when he’s playing he’s amazing to watch. He’s helped me so much, just by watching him train and play,” says Justin. “I’ve picked up certain things off him and Ben Chilwell to add to my game. Youri [Tielemans] has been a big influence too - he’s got the mind of a 35-year-old and he knows everything about football.”
Rodgers, he says, has also been “unreal” both on and off the field, during a trying time. In April, when the country had been placed into lockdown for the first time, Justin's father, Mick, passed away after a battle with cancer. Mick was Justin’s biggest supporter, a huge inspiration during those formative years in Luton’s local teams and someone who always believed in him.
“It was hard. I don’t think anyone understands it unless they’ve been through it,” he says. “My dad turned down countless job promotions when I was young, just so I had the best chance of having fun. As we got to the more serious years, he was still my taxi to the games and training. He played a massive part.
“I’ve still got a great family around me and they kept me going. I’ve tried to impress them and do it for the family name, I guess. Everything I do is for my family, my mum, siblings and of course my dad. I’m sure he will be happy with where I am.”
Rodgers' support at this time was crucial. “He was always there for a chat and took me under his wing. He went through a similar situation [Rodgers’ mother and father passed away in 2010 and 2011 respectively] so he knows what it feels like and was always checking up on me, to see if there was anything he could do for me at home or for the family.
“He’s been great for me as a player too. When I first signed he treated me a bit differently, but now he expects a lot more of me. He knows what I can do now.”
Justin reflects fondly on his time at Luton, after joining the club’s youth system in 2005. He made 114 appearances, winning two promotions, and still speaks to players, management and staff. Grounded, polite and driven, he is now the poster boy for Luton’s academy.
“They were the best club for how they treated me, and I always try to give them back as much as possible,” he says. “I had a Zoom call with the academy kids in September. I was asked about everything from training to motivation and foods.
“Those kids will be thinking, 'Can I be the next James Justin and move to the Premier League?' With the facilities they’ve now got at Luton, the world is their oyster and they can produce a lot more footballers. I was buzzing when they stayed up last season.”
Justin's sights are currently fixed rather higher: if Leicester beat Southampton at home this weekend, they will move second, a point off the leaders Manchester United. The visit of Ralph Hassenhuttl's side sparks memories of last season's remarkable double-header, when Leicester thrashed Southampton 9-0 away before losing 2-1 at home.
“The 9-0 was crazy. I was on the bench that night and it felt like a training game. They couldn’t do anything about it,” Justin says. “But when we played them at the King Power I thought they were one of the best teams we’ve seen. Danny Ings was incredible.
“They are flying now and whenever I watch them they’re always on the front foot and are aggressive, like us. But we’re ready for anything.”
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