Puel: Beware Stoke's Desire

- Leicester City manager Claude Puel evaluates the threats Stoke City could pose for his side
- The Potters visit King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday (12:30pm GMT kick-off)
- Puel knows Paul Lambert's men will pose a difficult challenge for the Foxes 
- The Frenchman hopes Jamie Vardy can continue his brilliant recent goalscoring form

While the Potters are 19th in the Premier League table, they have suffered just one league defeat under new manager Paul Lambert, collecting five points from a possible 12.

Evaluating the Staffordshire outfit’s potential on Thursday afternoon, Puel said: “I think it will be a tough game against this team because, for me, we will not play against a team in 19th position.

“They play well with good football on the floor - quality, good pressing and fighting spirit. In their last games, against Brighton, it was a draw.

“It was a loss against Bournemouth but, for example, they deserved other things because they we leading until the last minute of the game. It was good against Manchester United also.

“For this moment, this team is not a team playing like they are playing for relegation. We need to be careful against this team because it is a good potential.

“With [Xherdan] Shaqiri and [Joe] Allen, they can make the difference. We need to be careful because they play well - good football and a good fighting spirit. They deserved other things.”

Gallery 22 Feb 2018

First Team Training: Stoke City

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Photos

One man who could make the difference for the Foxes is England striker Jamie Vardy, who will be hoping to score his sixth goal in as many games on Filbert Way this weekend.

“He’s in good form and [has] a good attitude, of course; he can score, because around him he has good team-mates who can give him good assists and good possibilities,” Puel said.

“It’s a good work for all the team. Of course, Jamie is an important, valuable player for the team, like all the other players.

“I’m happy because he’s clinical and, for a striker, it’s the most important thing. He can also play with his team-mates with a good combination and a good understanding with them.

“I think also he has made good progress in the collective play. This is interesting, he has started well and he continues to make progress which is good.”

Live commentary of the fixture is available from 11:30am GMT on Saturday morning on LCFC Radio.