EPL: Leicester v Newcastle preview

Leicester v Newcastle preview

Leicester will be without suspended midfielder Wilfred Ndidi when they host Newcastle on Saturday.

Ndidi was sent off as the Foxes won 2-0 at Brighton last weekend to continue their push for a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

Leicester are three points behind Burnley, who are currently in seventh, with seven games of the season remaining.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have boosted their survival chances with back-to-back victories over Southampton and Huddersfield that have moved them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Leicester manager Claude Puel says his assistant Michael Appleton is completely focused on his duties at the King Power Stadium despite rumours suggesting he is in the frame for the West Brom job "I think they are clear now," said Leicester boss Claude Puel. "They are safe in the Premier League and that's fantastic for Newcastle. They can play with freedom against us.

 

"I think he [Rafa Benitez] made a great job all of the season. It's always difficult for a team to go down to the Championship and come back up the season after."

 

Leicester will be without Ndidi and also Matty James, who has had surgery on an Achilles. Daniel Amartey is set to return to training next week.

Newcastle striker Islam Slimani will sit out as he is ineligible to face his parent club under the terms of his loan agreement with the Magpies.

However, fellow frontman Joselu is fit after recovering from an ankle injury and could return, while midfielder Mohamed Diame has shaken off the knock which saw him limp off against the Terriers.