Jayden Joseph has moved to publicly defend Russell Martin, insisting every player in the Leicester City squad believes in the manager's approach and that the philosophy simply needs time to bed in.

The 20-year-old defender, one of several academy graduates now carrying serious responsibility at the club, told BBC East Midlands Today that the squad's backing for Martin is unanimous. "We all believe in it," Joseph said. "I feel like it's a good style of football and it will work, and I feel like the rest of the team believe that as well."

Pressure building after Oxford defeat

The comments come after a bruising week for the Foxes. A 4-0 home loss to Oxford United drew widespread criticism of Martin's possession-heavy system, with former Leicester forward Matt Piper publicly accusing the manager of "passing teams to death." The defeat prompted captain Harry Souttar to take responsibility on behalf of the players, saying the result was "solely down to" them, while ex-Foxes defender Conor Coady suggested the club's difficulties "run deeper" than any one manager or squad.

Martin himself has already spoken of criticism that he feels has turned personal. That Joseph has now stepped forward publicly suggests the dressing room is at least aware of the noise outside it, even if the message from within remains one of collective resolve.

A squad rebuilt almost from scratch

Context matters here. Only three of the players who started Leicester's final Championship match at Blackburn last season began the Oxford defeat. The upheaval has been substantial, driven in no small part by financial pressures that have forced the club to shed a long list of high-earners. Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks and Jordan Ayew are among those who have departed, and the fees generated by Jeremy Monga's move to Manchester City and Abdul Fatawu's transfer to Ipswich Town were described in the source as vital to the club's finances.

The club has also been put up for sale by owner Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha in recent weeks, adding a further layer of uncertainty to an already turbulent period.

Joseph acknowledged the difficulty the situation presents to supporters. "We are a new group," he said. "It's no excuse, but I feel like it's natural that it would take time to build what we have and let it work out. It's difficult for the fans, we know that, but patience is a good thing. We need to give it that bit of time for it all to come together."

Academy players stepping up

Joseph is not alone in being asked to shoulder more than might ordinarily be expected of a young player. The financial constraints that have reshaped Leicester's squad this summer have pushed a number of academy products into regular first-team action in the third tier, a division the club are competing in for the first time following back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and Championship.

Notably, Joseph scored what the BBC report describes as the first league goal of Martin's tenure, a small but telling detail: the players the manager is relying on most are also the ones speaking most loudly in his corner.

Martin's possession-based system drew criticism during earlier spells at Rangers and Southampton. Whether it translates in League One, with a squad largely assembled on the fly and still finding its shape, is the question supporters and observers are asking with increasing urgency. Joseph's answer, for now, is: give it time.

Whether Leicester fans, watching their club navigate a third tier they did not expect to be in, are inclined to offer that time is rather less certain.

Frequently asked

Why are Leicester City in League One?
Leicester suffered back-to-back relegations, dropping from the Premier League and then from the Championship, leaving them in the third tier for the first time in their recent history.
What is Russell Martin's style of play at Leicester?
Martin favours a possession-heavy approach, which has drawn criticism from fans and pundits after a heavy defeat to Oxford United, though players including Jayden Joseph say they believe it will work given time.
Who is Jayden Joseph at Leicester City?
Jayden Joseph is a 20-year-old defender who came through the Leicester City academy and has become a regular starter under Russell Martin in their League One campaign.