‘No Time To Dwell’ – Winks’ Pre-Leeds Message

- Leicester City face Leeds United in their next Sky Bet Championship encounter
- Friday’s fixture is an 8pm kick-off at Elland Road between first and second
- Harry Winks says the Foxes must move on from losing out to Middlesbrough
- All focus has quickly turned to tackling the Whites, he says

The Foxes lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough at the weekend, following a run of four consecutive league triumphs, but now face Leeds United in a top-of-the-table clash at Elland Road on Friday night (8pm kick-off).

Just the fifth time that Enzo Maresca’s men have left empty handed this term, Winks referenced the need to put that reverse to bed quickly.

“Everybody is focused on Leeds and in good spirits,” the midfielder said earlier this week. “Hopefully we can get a positive result and we’re working hard in this week to do that. We have to move on from that disappointing result.

“The most important thing is how we respond now – in the right way – after losing a game. We’re working on training for this next game and staying positive because it’s not the time now to feel sorry for ourselves or dwell on it. We have to now put it right."

Nine points separate the sides ahead of the clash in Yorkshire, though Daniel Farke’s side are currently enjoying an eight-match winning streak and came out on top when the teams met in the reverse fixture. It has to be seen as just another game, however, according to the 28-year-old.

“We know they’re a good side and regardless of their run, we know the threats that they have and how they can hurt us,” the England international commented on Friday’s opponents. “We have to be aware of that.

“We also know we can hurt them and need to focus on what we can do, but be mindful of their qualities and their strengths. We need to prepare well, but it should be a good game.

“You don’t want to detract from what you need to work on and what you need to do. All the noise surrounding that is external and we just have to focus purely on the game and our preparations - what we need to do to beat them. Everything else is for the outside to speak about, but not for us to control.”

Totalling 2,873 minutes of Championship football this term, Winks’ personal contribution to City’s impressive campaign has been huge. He’s started all but one of the league fixtures, scoring two crucial winning goals along the way.

“I love it,” he said, assessing the first six months of his Leicester career. “That’s the reason why I came here – to feel important, to play regularly; that’s all I wanted to do. To play with a manager and players like this, it’s incredible.

“I’m learning so much still and enjoying every minute of it. It’s been an enjoyable season. It’s been tough but hopefully we can end it with what we set out as our targets at the beginning.

“It’s the most enjoyable style I’ve ever played in my career. It’s all about the ball and controlling the game and nullifying the opposition. When you work with the Manager and his staff and they give you the details of how they want to play, it’s fascinating and every day is a learning curve and you learning something new. I’m really enjoying it.”

All times GMT.