Preview: Coventry vs Leicester

Paulo Sousa takes his Leicester side on the short trip down the M69 on Saturday afternoon as he bids for his first three points in charge of the Foxes.

After picking up just a point from their opening four fixtures, City sit just one place above Portsmouth at the foot of the table.

Not the ideal start to the campaign we would liked to have seen, but you know that cliché about it being a marathon and not a sprint? Well there it is.

Meanwhile neighbours Coventry have made a reasonable start to their own Championship season for the 382nd time in a row, but whether they can keep it up remains the biggest question on everybody's lips.

Coventry fans have seen it all before, and now they're all waiting for the inevitable drop in fortunes to resign themselves to yet another season in the same division. Or not?

New signings have been plentiful for both sides over the course of the summer, but the talk of this match will be the Sky Blues' capture of bad boy Marlon King.

The former Watford man was released from prison at the end of July after serving just half on an 18 month sentence for ABH and sexual assault. Lovely bloke.

Meanwhile for Leicester, on-loan Benfica centre back Miguel Vitor has been a mere bystander in City's disappointment so far, but after recovering from injury the Portuguese starlet is in contention for his Championship debut.

Martyn Waghorn is back after completing a permanent transfer to the club last week, and will be hoping the Ricoh can be a happy hunting ground once again after a superb equaliser there last season.

With tough matches against Cardiff and QPR following this match, three points has never been more welcome for Leicester, and Sousa in particular. New owners have expectations.

The last meeting between the two sides produced a thrilling four-goal draw between the two sides, as Coventry battled back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at the Walkers.

Leicester manager Paulo Sousa: 'We want to restart the season well after this break. We want to get the points on Saturday.

'That's what we are concentrating on and we are training for that. The barometer for everything we do going into the games is to see where we need to improve and hopefully we have already begun that.'

New signing Danny Ward is eligible to face the Foxes after completing his loan move from Bolton.

Defender Ben Turner and striker Lukas Jutkiewicz are fighting for fitness and should both be in contention.

Leicester fans will remember his excellent free-kick to open the scoring in the reverse fixture here last season, something of a speciality for the Northern Ireland international.

The midfielder has proved himself to be one of Coventry's most valuable assets since his move from Norwich last year thanks to his creative abilities in midfield.

Goalkeeper Chris Weale should be fit to start after recovering from his shoulder injury.

Miguel Vitor is pushing hard for a first team start at the heart of defence, and could replace compatriot Moreno at the back.

Japanese international Yuki Abe will play no part after visa issues meant he has not yet trained with his new team mates.

Who else? The boy is back and ready fire again for City. After a sluggish start, expectations are resting on the shoulders of the young striker to help propel the Foxes up the table once again.

Arriving with a significant price tag will naturally not help his cause, but a successful loan spell last season puts him in good stead for a bright future at the club.

Last meeting:

Leicester 2-2 Coventry
King 4, 19 - McPake 54, Deegan 87

- The two sides have met on 75 occasions in the league, Leicester coming out on top with 34 victories in comparison to the Sky Blues' 23.

- Marlon King could make his first appearance since October 2009 if signed on time.

- Matty Fryatt is just one shy of scoring his 50th league goal for Leicester.

- Coventry have scored in each of their four league matches so far.

A Taylor

It has to end soon doesn't it? Please? But sadly I can't see it being here. We NEVER win here. Coventry 1-1 Leicester.

Tuesday 14th September:

Coventry: Swansea (A)

Leicester: Cardiff (H)

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