This time last year, under Nigel Pearson, they seemed destined for relegation but 12 months on they find themselves level on points with top-of-the-table Arsenal and it would take a catastrophic collapse for the Foxes not to be competing in Europe again – after a 16-year absence – next season.
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“There was always a danger they would stop scoring or the chances being created weren’t as readily available and maybe their ability to win games would lessen”.
Hughes has no doubt that aspect has been key to Leicester producing fewer victories of late, but he does not see them as a side whose good work is now starting to unravel. Both teams play an attacking, fast flowing and open style of football and this makes them really interesting and fun to watch. “I wouldn’t suggest for one moment that Leicester are on the slide”.
Another significant player for Leicester this term has been defender Robert Huth, who joined from Stoke over the summer on a permanent deal following a loan spell last season.
Leicester exited the FA Cup after their defeat by Tottenham in midweek, but they have lost just once in their last 13 league games at the King Power Stadium.
“I feel very good now and I am able to train which is good for me”, he told the club’s website.
A win for any of the top three this weekend is likely to be huge in their bid to win the title, and I would go as far as to say that two of them winning would shock me.
Claudio Ranieri has played down fears about the fitness of Jamie Vardy and Ritchie De Laet ahead of Leicester’s visit of Stoke. The Foxes remain strongly fancied at 4/6 to secure a Champions League berth, while seventh place Stoke are now 9/1 to secure a top six finish.
The Stoke winger returned to training on Thursday following a hamstring injury, but will be assessed by manager Mark Hughes before a final decision is made on his availability.
“Leicester is the story of the season but we haven’t done badly either”, said Hughes, who is boosted by Xherdan Shaqiri’s return to training after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
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The Stoke boss will still be without Geoff Cameron (ankle) and Shay Given (knee) for what is the first of four away games for the Potters in quick succession, but Stephen Ireland, Marc Muniesa and Phil Bardsley are all fit for selection.
