“Ben Nelson’s SHOCKING Leicester City NIGHTMARE: Trapped in a Vicious Cycle as Marti Cifuentes Bets EVERYTHING on His Untouchable Duo!”

In May, Oxford United manager Gary Rowett told Leicester City they possessed a Premier League-calibre defender in Ben Nelson.

Yet, two months into the new campaign, the young centre-back has not played a single Championship minute.

In fact, Nelson has been left out of Leicester’s matchday squad for the last five league fixtures, raising questions about his immediate future at the club.

There is no doubt that Nelson has the raw attributes to develop into a top-tier defender — composure, physicality, and solid technique — but he still has plenty to learn before reaching that level.

Unfortunately, he seems to be caught in a familiar dilemma faced by many young professionals: needing experience to play, yet needing playing time to gain experience.

Few positions demand as much reliability and experience as centre-back. Mistakes at the heart of defence often prove costly, which makes managers more reluctant to trust young, untested players in that role.

While some clubs are willing to let promising defenders learn through trial and error, Leicester’s current situation doesn’t allow for such risks.

The club’s financial position, shaped by the constraints of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), means their priority is to secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

That urgency leaves little room for experimentation, particularly in defence, where consistency is paramount. Nelson, despite his potential, represents a gamble City cannot currently afford to take.

His only appearance this season — in the Carabao Cup against Huddersfield — did little to help his case.

Nelson endured a tough evening, losing possession under pressure and narrowly avoiding conceding two penalties.

Since then, manager Marti Cifuentes has opted for the tried-and-tested duo of Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard, the partnership that helped Leicester earn promotion two seasons ago.

While neither Faes nor Vestergaard are flawless, both provide a level of stability and experience that Nelson cannot yet match.

Vestergaard’s mistake against Wrexham was offset by an excellent defensive display against Swansea, while Faes, despite being outplayed at West Brom, has generally performed solidly.

For a promotion-chasing side, their experience makes them the safer and more dependable choice.

Looking ahead, a January loan move could be the ideal solution for Nelson.

Finding a club willing to give him consistent game time — and the freedom to make and learn from mistakes — would be crucial for his development.

After all, Nelson remains relatively inexperienced. His time at Oxford last season was interrupted by injury, limiting him to just 17 appearances — less than half a full campaign.

With fewer than 50 senior league matches under his belt, he still has a long way to go.

A suitable loan move could provide the vital experience needed to help him break the cycle and fulfil his considerable potential.