After the little episode on the road, Tristan continued riding and soon returned to his home in the suburbs.
"I'm back!"
Seeing Tristan walk into the house, his mother Julia immediately ran over from the living room and gave him a big hug with a smile on her face.
Twenty years ago, his father Ling Hale came from the far east to study abroad at the University of Leicester and met Julia. The two fell in love at first sight, and soon got married. Two years later, Tristan was born.
As the only child in the family, Tristan had been loved since childhood. Ever since he proposed to become a professional football player, his parents have always stood behind him and supported him unreservedly.
Julia was a native of Leicestershire and a very gentle woman. While taking Tristan's backpack, she reached out and touched her son's face, looking a bit distressed.
"Why are you so tan again? Is the training hard?"
"It's fine."
"You haven't had breakfast yet? I just made it; come and eat!"
"Okay."
Tristan was led by his mother to the dining room, where he saw his father sitting at the seat of honor. Ling, dressed in a white shirt and black-framed glasses, didn't put down the financial newspaper in his hand when he saw Tristan. Instead, he raised his chin toward him and greeted him.
"Welcome home, son."
Smiling back, Tristan sat down in the seat on the right side of the dining table. The breakfast spread was quite impressive, featuring Western-style bacon, sausage, and fried eggs, alongside Chinese-style millet porridge, fried dough sticks, buns, steamed dumplings, and salted duck eggs.
Looking at these Chinese breakfasts that were both strange and familiar, Tristan, who had eaten only nutritious meals in the youth team decided to indulge himself since the moment he gets back in the field, he has to watch what's he eating and drinking.
As Tristan sat down for breakfast, his mother, Julia, handed him a plate and smiled. "I'm so proud of you, Tristan. I still can't believe you were called up to play in the FA Cup."
Tristan smiled, recalling the game. "Yeah, it was a great experience."
"But you're not officially part of the first team yet, right? They just brought you in for that match."
"Not yet, Mum," Tristan said, shaking his head. "It was just a one-time call-up for the FA Cup game. But who knows? Maybe after that performance, they'll consider promoting me for real."
Julia placed her hand on his shoulder, eyes full of hope. "You've worked so hard, love. If they don't see it now, they will soon. Now come eat."
Just as Tristan was happily enjoying his mother's cooking, his cell phone vibrated in his trouser pocket.
The bell rang.
Putting down his chopsticks and taking out his cell phone, Tristan saw an unfamiliar number on the screen.
"Hello?"
The next second, a slightly hoarse male voice sounded from the other end of the phone.
"Tristan, it's me, Walsh."
"Coach?"
The caller was Steve Walsh, the assistant coach and chief scout of the first team. Before Tristan could say anything, Walsh told him a piece of news that didn't surprise him at all.
"Mr. Pearson asked me to tell you to report to the first team tomorrow!"
...
Ling and Julia were thrilled about the news of their son being promoted to the first team.
After spending a relaxing and warm day at home, Tristan rode back to the Belvoir base the next morning to prepare for his first-team career.
Under the personal guidance of assistant coach Steve Walsh, Tristan entered the first team's locker room for the first time.
"From today on, Tristan will be a member of the first team. Let's welcome him with applause."
Following the announcement by head coach Pearson, the Leicester City first-team team, led by captain Wes Morgan, applauded.
No one on the first team was surprised at all about Tristan's promotion. Judging from his amazing performance in the last FA Cup, he was fully capable of gaining a foothold in the first team!
Therefore, except for a few competing midfielders who were not very enthusiastic, the other players welcomed Tristan's joining.
It was worth mentioning that the midfielder Jamal, who made his first-team debut with him in the FA Cup, did not stay in the first team but returned to the youth team.
Including Tristan, the entire first team had a total of five midfielders. Leicester City's tactical formation mainly employed a 4-4-2 setup. This meant that only two central midfielders would start in every game.
In the first half of the Championship League, the two central midfield positions were rotated by the other four midfielders in the team. Among them, Danny Drinkwater, a product of Manchester United's youth training, was the undisputed core of the midfield.
Another young midfielder, Matty James, who also came from Manchester United's youth training, partnered with Drinkwater in the midfield. The passing organization and interception defense of these two former Manchester United youth players were key to Leicester City maintaining its top spot in the Championship that season.
The remaining two midfield rotation players were Andy King, the "family kid" who had been with Leicester City for ten years and was loved by fans, and Dean Hammond, the veteran midfielder who transferred from Premier League Southampton this season.
There were 24 teams participating in the Championship League, with a total of 46 rounds of matches. Compared to the 38 rounds of the Premier League, plus the League Cup, FA Cup, and other cup competitions, the Championship League games were even more intense. Therefore, the lineup of five midfielders was just right.
"That's your place."
As a newcomer who had just been promoted to the first team, Tristan's position was in the far right corner of the locker room. In a closet, there was a jersey hanging with the name "Tristan" and the number "22."
The locker above had a sign with "HALE" printed on it. This was Tristan's exclusive space in the first-team locker room!
Next to him was Mahrez, who had just transferred over. As soon as he sat down, the handsome player raised his eyebrows at Tristan and shook hands with him.
"Welcome to the first team, mate."
"Thank you."
"After changing your clothes, gather at the training ground."
After this, the head coach and assistant coach turned around and walked out of the locker room. At this time, the captain, Wes Morgan, spoke in a deep and rich voice.
"Tristan, how about introducing yourself so that everyone can get to know you?"
Hearing this, Tristan was initially stunned. Then he stood up without hesitation and walked to the center of the locker room. Looking around at everyone, without any shyness or trepidation of a newcomer, he opened his arms and said loudly,
"Good morning, guys. My name is Tristan; you can call me Hale too if you prefer that; I don't mind. whether on or off the pitch. I hope to learn how to play from you all, play side by side with you all, and contribute my part to this team."
The modest speech received applause from the crowd. At the same time, many people were puzzled and doubtful. He did not look like an 18-year-old kid who had just been promoted to the first team; he looked more like an experienced player who had faced many ups and downs and transferred from other clubs.
As for whether this kid could continue to stay on the first team and fight alongside them, it depended on his performance on the pitch.
While putting on his Adidas blue Predator Absolute cleats,, Tristan observed everyone in the locker room. In his opinion, it was somewhat difficult for him to become a main midfielder of the first team.
Although he possessed the passing skills and vision of an all-time great, he knew he needed to adapt quickly to the team's tactics and style of play. After all, being bad was the most unforgivable sin in the competitive world of sports! Something he had experienced firsthand.