Leicester

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Southampton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Cooper confirmed that "nothing has changed" in terms of injuries, but they are "still waiting for a few [players] to get back". Patson Daka is "making progress" and "is coming into the final stages of rehab" after operation on his ankle injury.

• Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi is "in a safe place, and that includes the mental side of it too" after an incident with his national side that saw the team left stranded at an airport overnight, and he will be available for Saturday's game.

• On if getting a first Premier League win of the season has taken the pressure off: "There's always pressure on every team. There's not a moment you can step away from that... we know which direction we're travelling in and it's a rocky road sometimes but we're excited about the journey ahead."

• Cooper added: "When we get it right, it will be exciting. We are really motivated and believe in where we're going to go. We have to make it happen and we're in control of that."

• Cooper said it is "always better going into an international break after a win" but it is now about "attacking the weekend" when they play Southampton as they "want back-to-back wins, [to] create more positivity".

• He added: "The opportunity we have is to build on that [win]. It's always hard when results are not going as you want, but we haven't been narrow-minded to think we haven't done some good things and things we need to improve on."

• On the Saints' style of play: "Every team has a style in the Premier League, every team has consistencies. That is how you end up succeeding. I always respect our opponents but we have to make sure we are at our best and believe that we can have the biggest impact in the game."

• On the pathway for British coaches after Thomas Tuchel's appointment as England manager: "I really believe in British culture, I believe in the coaching education pathway as well... hopefully over the course of time, British coaching will continue to improve and we will be right up there with the world's best."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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."

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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?

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