Andy King is back better than ever, says Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson
Leicester City midfielder Andy King has returned from injury in better shape than before, says manager Nigel Pearson.
King missed a big chunk of last season with a heel injury that he had been nursing for a while, but Pearson said the Wales international had worked hard on his game and his fitness and was now getting back to his best.
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King's 10th-minute strike against Brighton on Tuesday night was his third league goal of the campaign and fourth of the season, and Pearson said the fierce competition for places had kept the players on their toes.
"I think last season was the only time he has not hit double figures for the about four or five years," said Pearson.
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"It was the first time he had picked up what could be seen as a relatively serious injury. I think he has come back energised after a lengthy spell out with injury and he is enjoying his football.
"We have some good competition in the middle of the park. Matty James has done very well for us in the games he played and he will certainly play his part this season. He is a really good player.
"I think the players who are currently in the team know that they must maintain the levels they have hit so far to retain their place because, when you have players who are constantly knocking on the door, I think that is good for the players and the group. We have good competition."
Pearson was also full of praise for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who made a vital penalty save to deny Ashley Barnes an equaliser in the second half.
"Kasper last season was one of our best performers," said Pearson. "He won us a lot of points.
"You don't want your goalkeeper starring every week, but I think it is important for your goalkeeper and back four to be consistent and have a presence about them.
"He has performed consistently well for us. I am very pleased with how he has embraced the challenge. He wants to be a success and we want him to be a success here."
City will check on the condition of defender Ritchie De Laet and striker David Nugent ahead of Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace after both were withdrawn with injuries on Tuesday night.
"Ritchie came off with a tight chest," said Pearson. "He will be assessed but hopefully he will be okay.
"Nugent got a knock on his Achilles and we had Jamie Vardy on the bench, so we thought it was prudent to take him off at that point.
"There is no point running a player into the ground."
Comments
by Norman09
Thursday, October 25 2012, 8:35PM
“Yes scoring more goals will determine or not as to whether we go up. Or toil away down here. Agree Geoff, Rowley would have had a field day in this side. FF1 has been given a holiday, or he may even be banned from the site. I miss his comments to be honest. So bring back FF1.”
by yorkiefox
Thursday, October 25 2012, 7:11PM
“As I said before, Drinkwaters high quality allows King to do what he does best- drift in and score goals. Let King do what he does best and he will reward you like any other.
We now have round pegs in round holes and square pegs in square holes and look at the difference, points I regularly made when Sven was in charge.
Schmeichel has to play his part in making this team successful. He will get better as he goes, with regular match practice. Neither he nor his father was in football just for the money - Peter was desperate for success. Real Madrid will pay well and leave Schmeichel on the bench till he gets like all bloated also-ran Keepers from the big teams, playing in some second division Europeean league team toill he gets fit again- losing the best part of his career to the glitz and glamour without the personal satisfaction of having made a difference.
Get LCFC up, establish us in the Prem over the next 3 years, then if appropriate move on to the glamour boys when clearly recognised as worthy of the number one shirt from the outset.
Here endeth the Lesson !!!”
by TheGeofflane
Thursday, October 25 2012, 5:37PM
“Agree with you totally, Foxulike. Nugent is our most important player, Vardy, still learning, works so hard Beckford should have him on video, BUT, previously it was Lambert, now it is Austin. Maybe it will be Vardy, but Nigel HAS to either sign or coach our 20-goal striker. I am loving the football - no one else in our league comes close. The silence from Foxfan1 is deafening. But goals win matches and our strikers ain't striking.”
by FoxUlike
Thursday, October 25 2012, 4:46PM
“We could quite easily have won all our games, and be sitting on a record of played 11 won 11.
Footy generally doesn't work like that though. Luck and referees will always take away a good chunk of your points.
And I've never yet seen a team who was perfect – especially not at Championship level. So yes, we are missing a lot of chances – but our defensive record is superb – and both Nugent and Vardy contribute massively to that with their work-rate which stops teams from building up attacks.
So bringing in a 'goal-scorer' at the expense of Jamie Vardy may well put a few more in the onion bag, but it also gives the opposition more time to build from the back – so you'll find that we probably start conceding a few more too.
In other words: If it ain't broke – don't fix it.”
by TheGeofflane
Thursday, October 25 2012, 4:24PM
“Well Marshall 'saved' us at Brum - a game we should have won easily. Schmeical 'saved' us the other night when only Kingy could shoot UNDER the bar. All this genuinely excellent footie but the midfield can't keep carrying the attack. Vardy and Waggie both need another year. Nugent can't do it on his own. Best team we've had in years, playing lovely football. But PLEASE, can we find our Austin, our Lambert, our LINEKER? And for those as old as me - our Arthur Rowley.”
by foxeerod
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:33PM
“no we shouldnt single players out, but i am gonna single the whole team out as the best team in this division. i think cardiff are in a false position , they were lucky to win at ipswich and even luckier to beat watford. i think any team can beat any team in this division, but i think most teams are gonna struggle to beat us.
i feel middlesboro are gonna have a good season , but the only team i think thatmay come with a run is , i hate to say it , dirty forest , because their manager has bought and loaned well.
i know all clubs have a bad spell , but who knows our bad spell may have been our first 3 away games of the season”
by Chappy1884
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:18PM
“spot on. lcfctillidie”
by lcfctilidie
Thursday, October 25 2012, 9:17AM
“King is playing better because the midfield around him is more confident. Drinkwater is so consistant and take some pressure of Kingy. Things are going really well. King will always get goals arriving late into the box, he is very very good at it.
We should not single players out for doing well, the whole team is playing its part.”