Adams wants to forge a career at the very top level

10:04am Thursday 3rd July 2008

NICKY Adams is hoping to emulate his former youth team colleague Colin Kazim-Richards and break into the big time after leaving Bury.

The Bolton-born winger said goodbye to Gigg Lane this week for the rather more glamourous surroundings of the 32,500-capacity Walkers Stadium, home of League One side Leicester City.

But, never one to shy away from the spotlight, the self-assured 21-year-old is sure he can go on to bigger and better things in his career - just like Kazim-Richards, who left the club for Brighton before moving on to star in Euro 2008 with Turkey, via Sheffield United and Fenerbahce.

"I have never doubted my ability, even though some have at times," Adams said of his often-fractious relationship with the Bury fans.

"Leicester is a huge club and you only have to look at the ground and the training facilities to work out why I wanted to come here so much, they are Premiership standard.

"And I'd like to think that, like Colin, I can progress and go even higher.

"He has done great things and it is all because he has that self-belief.

"I have that too, and if I work hard on my game I'm sure I can play at a higher level than League One, hopefully with Leicester.

"First thing's first, I need to prove myself here and get a first-team place. But after that, you never know."

Adams, already a Wales under-21 international, came through the ranks at Bury after being on the books of both Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers.

He burst on to the scene in 2005, scoring on his debut against Darlington, but he came of age last season when in his first real tilt at first-team football, he scored 13 goals in 49 games and also led the division with 15 assists.

He was heavily linked with a move to Rochdale for much of pre-season and, though the Spotland side was an option, Adams said he had bigger fish to fry.

"There were quite a few offers on the table, some from the Championship, but once I saw what Leicester had to offer, there was no-one else that could touch it.

"Alan Knill was a class act. He said that if I could move to a bigger club he would not stand in my way."

The Breightmet-based youngster is now planning to move with his family to the Midlands.

"I've always been a bit of a homebody, so it will be difficult leaving Bolton. I have been here all my life," he admitted.

"I'll have my family around me, so that will help me settle."