Latest Leicester City news as the Foxes resume their Championship title charge with a double-header over Easter.
Leicester City have had just under two weeks to dust themselves down and prepare for the remaining nine of their Championship games this season.
The Foxes are currently joint top with Leeds United on 82 points, one point above Ipswich Town. City’s recent struggle has seen their comfortable lead cut down, putting their return to the Premier League in jeopardy.
This coming weekend presents the chance for further change. Enzo Maresca’s side are in action twice in the space of four games, travelling to Bristol City on Good Friday before welcoming Norwich City to the King Power Stadium on Easter Monday.
Maximum points will strengthen their case for an instant return to the top flight. However, any dropped points could see them fall outside the automatic promotion spots for the first time since September.
Here, LeicestershireLive has picked out three things that Leicester would like to happen over the Easter weekend in their race for promotion:
Back to winning ways
Leicester’s hopes of returning to the Premier League remain in their own hands. If Maresca’s side produce a perfect run in their nine remaining games, they will go up as champions.
But football isn’t that easy and City have fallen victim to the challenges that the Championship can produce. Before the international break, they managed just one win in five league games – losing three matches.
This weekend presents them with a chance to earn six crucial points in a short space of time to turn the anxious aura around Seagrave into one of confidence.
One encouraging statistic for Leicester is that they have already defeated all nine of their final opponents this season. If they are going to reach their goal of promotion, they have to return to winning ways.
Perfect FFP response
The March international break has been a frustrating one for City. The Financial Fair Play situation at the club has left a sour taste in the mouth of supporters with the threat of a points deduction awaiting them.
Maresca has continued to bang the drum of focusing on the next game. That will be the message to the players. However, the headlines and anxiety over the potential punishment will have had an affect on supporters, with many calling for change.
But right now, the focus has to be on the pitch. Frustration over the decisions from those above have to be put aside on matchday and the priority has to be on encouraging the team over the line.
For the players, there isn’t a better way to inject some much-needed positivity into the stands at the King Power Stadium than with a five-star display and three points.
Ricardo Pereira boost
When Ricardo Pereira suffered a hamstring injury before the 2-1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers, Leicester lacked more than a versatile wing-back offering a real threat. The Portuguese has played in a more advanced role under Maresca, partnering Harry Winks in midfield and occasionally lining up in the attacking No.8 role.
Maresca confirmed earlier this month that the 30-year-old would be back after the international break and his recovery comes at the perfect time for Leicester.
The return of Wilfred Ndidi prior to the break means Leicester have gone from lacking numbers in midfield to now having options to choose from. Pereira’s return also eases the burden on Hamza Choudhury, who was filling in for the Portuguese in the complex right-back role.
Leicester’s future may be in their hands but there is also the need for clubs to do them favours this weekend. Leeds and Ipswich are also both in action, meaning there’s scope for City to add some breathing room.
Friday sees Ipswich travel to Blackburn Rovers (5.30pm) and Leeds take on Watford later in the evening – both tricky away fixtures. Three days later, Ipswich take on fourth-place Southampton before Leeds host play-off chasers Hull City.
On paper, none of these games are ‘easy’ ones for either team. And with the fact that television selections have meant City won’t be playing at the same time as their league rivals gives each game that added bit of interest.
In a perfect world, Leicester will move up to 88 points with two wins and Leeds will fall behind them with two defeats. Ipswich will also struggle, taking the pressure off the Foxes. But as we know, the Championship doesn’t always work like that.
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