Ranieri’s Fitness Update: Amartey

- The City boss said he will decide whether Amartey will be included in the squad to face the Citizens on Friday 

- Ranieri expects Saturday’s encounter at Etihad Stadium to be an open game Leicester City manager 

Claudio Ranieri says he will wait until Friday before deciding whether Daniel Amartey will be included in his squad to face Manchester City at the weekend. 

The versatile defender, who can also operate in midfield, signed for the Foxes last month from FC Copenhagen and hasn’t played since 6 December following the Danish Supaliga’s winter break. 

Ranieri hinted ahead of Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool that Amartey could be involved against Man City and the City boss says he will assess the Ghana international’s fitness ahead of the game. 

“I want to think a little more, I want to speak with my fitness coach and him and then I’ll decide,” said Ranieri of Amartey. “It’s just [his] fitness. He’s trained every day with us. Everybody is okay. 

“It was before the winter break [that Amartey last played]. Now he restarts and slowly, slowly he’s getting better. I don’t know if Saturday he comes with me on the bench or next match with Arsenal – I don’t know. Tomorrow (Friday) I’ll decide.” 

The Foxes head to Etihad Stadium three points clear of Manuel Pellegrini’s men at the top of the Barclays Premier League table. 

Ranieri said of the clash: “It’s an open match because they want to win to achieve us. We want to win to go away and then it’s an open match. 

“Maybe it’s an open match and at the end it’s a draw. You never know with football.”