Five Feature In Ranieri’s Fitness Update

- Nampalys Mendy and Kasper Schmeichel will both miss out 

- Schmeichel has been playing outfield in training this week to maintain fitness levels 

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri provided a fitness update on five members of his squad ahead of the Premier League trip to Watford. 

The City boss revealed that Danny Drinkwater, who missed out for England due to a rib problem over the most recent international break, trained well on Thursday, as did Demarai Gray after the winger picked up a knock while away on duty with England Under-21s. 

Meanwhile, Shinji Okazaki will also be assessed prior to Saturday’s fixture after featuring twice for Japan over the past two weeks. 

“They’re getting better of course,” Ranieri said of Drinkwater and Gray. “They both had a rest and got better and today (Thursday) they worked. 

“Tomorrow, I will see how they react. Danny had little rib injury - when he breathed, it wasn’t very well. Gray took a kick to the calf muscle. 

“Okazaki only played one minute. He’s not 100 per cent when he came back but he recovered yesterday very well. Today he made a normal training session so I’ll check tomorrow.” 

Both Nampalys Mendy and Kasper Schmeichel will miss out, with the latter playing an unfamiliar role outfield in training this week to keep fitness levels topped up while the Denmark international recovers from a fractured hand. 

Discussing Mendy’s fitness, Ranieri added: “Today he was a little no good. I’ll wait because the surgeon wants to see him. We are waiting. 

“Kasper from the beginning of the week is working with us as a normal player – not in goal – but with us in the match. An outfield player."