Leicester V Derby at The King Power Stadium : Match Preview

09 January 2014 16:31
Leicester V Derby - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Foxes waiting on four

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is waiting on the fitness of a quartet of players ahead of the visit of midlands rivals Derby.


Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Danny Drinkwater both missed last weekend's FA Cup defeat at Stoke while Ignasi Miquel and Matty James are also nursing knocks, but all four are expected to be fit and available for Friday night's clash.


"We will be looking at Danny Drinkwater over the next couple of days to see how he is, likewise Gary Taylor-Fletcher," said Pearson. "Matty James has a couple of knocks but I think he will be okay. Ignasi Miquel has had a knock on his calf and missed training on Wednesday. We have a few players to keep an eye on but, hopefully, they will be available."


Striker Chris Wood is back in training after a month-long absence with a hamstring injury and Pearson has not ruled him out of contention.


Craig Bryson should come back into the reckoning for Derby.


Bryson missed the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea last weekend with a groin injury but the 11-goal midfielder is expected to be fit for the clash against the Rams' East Midlands rivals on Friday night.


Patrick Bamford joined Steve McClaren's men on Monday and the on-loan Chelsea striker will hope to make his debut at the King Power Stadium. Fellow forward Johnny Russell underwent surgery to repair a fractured cheekbone last week and is on course to return to action by the end of January.


Skipper Richard Keogh has missed the last four matches with a knee ligament injury and will remain unavailable so Michael Keane, who had a successful loan spell last season with Leicester, will keep his place in central defence and face his former club.


Source: PA