I fell in love with a Leicester City loanee: Martyn Waghorn

Inspired by The Athletic’s report that Abdul Fatawu will be making his temporary switch permanent before the end of the season, we asked our writers which Leicester City loan players they’ve fallen for in the past. Becky Taylor was able to take the question quite literally.

As a 16/17-year-old, going to watch Leicester every weekend was vastly improved by the loan signing of Martyn Waghorn.

Scoring on his debut helped propel Waghorn into view footballing-wise but it was as much about what he looked like, as it was his performances, that won me over. I fell in love with a loan player quite literally.

There are many home games across that period that all merge into one, but I vividly remember the 2-1 victory against Swansea which saw Waghorn cement himself immediately high in my list of favourites.

Those Pearson teams were very likeable, no more so than Waghorn. It felt like he was the classic raw young player ready to properly make his mark in senior football, after only a handful of appearances prior to joining us.

Waghorn’s goal to equalise against Coventry was definitely a favourite of his for me – our current ‘gerrit forward’ fans would love it; route one, flick on, volley from the edge.

The appreciation of a long-sleeved shirt was something I could really get behind – although, at that point, I don’t think it mattered to me what he was wearing.

I’d probably go as far as saying I was besotted by him. I recently found some terrible quality photos I took on a digital camera pre-games that season. Blurry photos of Waggy featured heavily.

Many people forget he also missed his penalty in the play-off game that featured that Kermorgant shambles. It made me love him no less, even if it did make me cry as much as I ever have watching Leicester.

(I can’t mention that game without praising the lot of them for the performance that night, what an unbelievable effort that made it hurt that bit more at the time!)

I prayed we would sign him on a permanent from Sunderland. I was ready to get Waghorn 14 on the back of the new yellow third shirt (bring back yellow shirts, by the way).

My Fabrizio Romano moment came when I was at the ground buying my Cov (A) tickets. I stepped out of the ticket office to see a car drive past with a familiar-looking face in the back.

It took a few seconds to register but I was certain it was him; at this point it was only resurfacing rumours we might actually go for the permanent signing, so I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I can remember the butterflies I got like it was yesterday. I ran towards the main stand, he got out of the car and waved in my direction. I genuinely about melted, then realised he was clearly waving at a member of staff who was just in front of me but I didn’t care.

The permanent deal didn’t quite go to plan; I kept my faith in him until the end of his time with us – as confirmed by some entertaining and cringey Facebook statuses throughout his time here.

A prized possession of mine to this day is an 18th birthday card from the man himself. I’ll always have a soft spot for Waggy. And I did get his name and number printed on that yellow shirt.