Leicester

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wilfred Ndidi's preparations to face Southampton on Saturday have hardly been ideal.

Along with the rest of the Nigeria squad, he was left stranded at an airport overnight before Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

Ndidi, along with former Foxes team-mate Kelechi Iheanacho, spent over 15 hours in Al Abraq before eventually flying back to Nigeria on Monday evening, with the game being called off.

That Ndidi returns fully fit for the Foxes is of paramount importance for boss Steve Cooper given his influence this season.

The 27-year-old is much improved after struggling during Leicester's meek relegation in 2022-23, with Cooper perhaps benefiting from the additional skillset Ndidi learned under Enzo Maresca last season.

It means he has been deployed further forward, as well as his traditional deeper midfield role, and offers presence at both ends. Indeed, only Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer have more assists than Ndidi's four this season, while he leads the tackling statistics with 28.

Leicester as a team are second with 146, 10 behind Manchester United.

Ndidi's new contract in the summer, tying him to the club until 2027, perhaps came as a surprise given the links away, but he has already underlined why Leicester were so determined to keep him.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper spoke to the When You're Smiling podcast about the Foxes' next match against fellow promoted team Southampton on Saturday: "Southampton have had a poor start to the season. On paper, we've got to be picking up three points without a doubt but we know the league doesn't work like that and they have picked up in the last game.

"They play some really good football and have some dangerous players. It will be difficult, but I'm hoping for three points."

Graeme Smith from Foxes Pride added: "Southampton are a better team than their position suggests. But I do think if they stick to their principles I think that will help us because we have players who are good enough to get through the gaps they create."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?

What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?

Send in your questions here, external

A relegation-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Rachel asked: Considering the start a couple of Premier League teams have had, have you changed your mind about who is going to go down this year?

Phil answered: I made the choice of Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, so I have to stick with that for now.

From what I have watched, though, I can see Ipswich making a decent fist of it and then we have the struggles for Wolves, who I thought would be doing better than they have - so that is always a bit of a wildcard.

I'm at Southampton v Leicester this weekend so maybe I'll learn more then.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news