​As the Jackson 5 might put it, the solution to Leicester City’s jittery start is “easy as AB…E”.

The tremendous £2million acquisition of Martyn Waghorn has somewhat overshadowed Yuki Abe’s arrival, but the Japanese international is precisely what City need, a combative midfielder who can rapidly turn defence into attack.

The 28-year-old is like an Asian Neil Lennon, although he is also blessed with the enviable dead-ball skills of a Garry Parker or Steve Thompson.

He has won 49 caps for his country and was ever-present at the World Cup in South Africa, where a watchable Japan, spearheaded by Keisuke Honda, notched impressive victories over Cameroon and Denmark, before losing on penalties to Paraguay in the last 16.

Abe, who Leicester landed from Urawa Reds, will bring raw energy to central midfield, and create vital space for the likes of Dyer, Moussa or N’Guessan.

He will also provide desperately-needed protection to a leaky back-four who have already shipped 12 goals in all competitions.

If Abe plays regularly he could plausibly grab 10-plus assists, as well as quash the kind of counter-attacks Paulo Sousa’s pretty open style has so far proven susceptible to.

It may take him a while to adapt to the English game. The J-League is not nearly as physical, although it is also played at a furious pace.

That said, Abe had few problems frustrating the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Dirt Kuyt for much of the game in Holland’s 1-0 group victory over Japan, so has proven he can compete at the highest level.

He actually feared South Africa would be his “last chance to impress on the world stage” but, if Leicester’s dream of Premier League football is realised, it will surely guarantee him a place at Brazil 2014.

Abe, who has also won an Asian Champions League medal with the Reds (2007), will provide healthy competition to the out-of-form, but talented, Andy King, and the committed, but not especially clinical, Richie Wellens. Both must now be at their very best to get regular starts.

In contrast, Waghorn will rightly be one of, if not the, first name on Sousa’s team-sheet. I can’t believe he won’t win an England Under 21 cap this season.

The talented 20-year-old is already a huge City favourite after scoring 12 goals in an enthralling loan-spell from Sunderland last season. He has Premier League quality and won’t be fazed by a hefty price-tag, which could rise to £3m.

Waggy scored a memorable equaliser at Coventry last October in Leicester’s gutsy 1-1 draw, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he eclipses controversial Sky Blues signing Marlon King with another on Saturday, as City go up the M69 in search of their first Championship win.

It is just a shame he won’t be playing alongside DJ Campbell. I am firmly bracing myself for a wave of vicious disagreement, but I am genuinely sorry to see DJ leave for Blackpool.

In Waghorn, Matty Fryatt and Steve Howard, Leicester have firepower, but had Campbell stayed I fancied him to net 20-plus goals.

Although Waghorn will undoubtedly develop into a far better player, he is by no means a like-for-like replacement.

He is a goal creator, as well as scorer, and assuming he will net 20-odd times, especially at such a young age, is a bit ambitious. I would absolutely love to be proven wrong.

Thus, with DJ gone, I am now intrigued who will end up as Leicester’s top-scorer. Who do you fancy? Let me know at:

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