Ranieri Confirms Amartey Availability

- The central midfielder featured for Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday 

- Ranieri says both Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa will not feature in the Foxes’ Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay against the Rams 

- The City boss confirmed he will make changes to his side for the fixture 

Claudio Ranieri says is available for Leicester City’s Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay with . 

The central midfielder played his at the Africa Cup of Nations at the weekend and is likely to report back to the Club on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s game. 

Amartey proved his versatility at the tournament in Gabon as he operated a centre back in all six of the Black Stars’ fixtures. 

Ranieri said of City’s No.13: “He is available and he should arrive this afternoon (Tuesday). He’s okay and I speak with him. I think he’s available because in the last match on Saturday he played in Africa. Everything is okay. 

“When we bought him, we knew he could play in different positions – central midfield, right midfield, right back and centre back. He’s a very universal player.” 

The fixture comes too soon for strikers Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa, with Ranieri hopeful that the former will be fit for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Swansea City. 

Ranieri said of Slimani and Ulloa’s fitness: “They are improving, both are improving. Now today they started in the warm-up with me. 

“Slimani is getting better and Ulloa has not done all the work with me because he needs to improve more [fitness]. I hope for Swansea that Slimani could be available.” 

The City boss revealed he is likely to make a number of changes to his side, who are preparing to play two games in five days. 

“Of course, tomorrow is an important match but you have to protect some players because also Sunday there is another big match,” Ranieri added. “We want to go through the cup. 

“I will change some players. It is a very, very important match for us. The FA Cup is an important achievement and we will fight for this. Of course, the Premier League is our priority, that is right, but we want to do well in the FA Cup.”