Pearson pleased for Saints
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is pleased to see his former club Southampton competing in the upper echelons of the Barclays Premier League.
The situation at Saints is far removed from Pearson's time at the club in 2008 - and the couple of years that followed his brief spell in charge.
Pearson, on a rolling contract for what turned out to be just three months, managed to keep Southampton in the Championship at the expense of Leicester who were relegated.
Saints would soon follow the Foxes down to League One, though, and a spell in administration followed.
The south coast club has steadily clawed its way back to the top flight under the guidance of Alan Pardew and Nigel Adkins but many predicted the bad times may be about to return last summer when, after an impressive Premier League campaign, the likes of Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw were all sold.
However, Ronald Koeman has recruited shrewdly and, against the odds, has taken Southampton to the brink of European qualification - something Pearson is pleased about.
"When Leicester went down, Leicester's result didn't go their way, and there were other sides involved as well," said Pearson, whose Leicester team hosts Saints on Saturday.
"I only had a very short spell at Southampton but I have fond memories of it because it was my first managerial job at a bigger club, if you like.
"I had a short stint at Carlisle which was a great learning curve and it was a difficult time going in there but I've remained friends with people who I worked with down there.
"But it wasn't to be. It's a club which I like as a football club. It has a really nice feel to it and the way it is being managed now is right.
"Alan Pardew, Nigel Adkins and the other managers that have been in there since have all managed it with the touch that club deserves and that's nice as there's some good people down there.
"Southampton are a very accomplished side. They've had another outstanding season because from the managerial changes last year and a number of so-called big players leaving, there were a lot of question marks as to whether they could carry on where they left off."
After Southampton, Leicester travel to Sunderland before finishing the campaign off at home to QPR. Both teams are currently just below Pearson's men.
David Nugent will return to the Foxes' squad. The striker is fit again after missing four matches with a calf problem so midfielder Andy King (hamstring) remains the only injury absentee for Pearson.
Ronald Koeman is confident Jay Rodriguez will soon sign a new and improved contract at Southampton.
A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament means it has been over a year since the 25-year-old last played, but that has not prevented speculation mounting over his future.
Rodriguez only has a season left on his contract and there have been suggestions that a summer move could be on the cards, with Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool apparently ready to test Saints' resolve.
However, the England international now seems ready to pen a new deal at St Mary's, with Koeman rating the chances of the forward signing as eight out of 10.
"He was talking to the club," the Saints boss said. "He's a good player and I think he will be an important player for next season.
"If he stays, I think that is a good signal to the club, to everybody."
Rodriguez will not feature at the King Power Stadium this weekend - a match James Ward-Prowse will miss through suspension.
Fraser Forster, Dusan Tadic and Emmanuel Mayuka are unavailable to face the Foxes through injury, as is Morgan Schneiderlin.
Last week Koeman said the France midfielder would miss the rest of the season with a knee complaint, but the prognosis has improved since then.
"It's going much better but he is not close to being part of training," he said.
Source: PAR
