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  1. Van Nistelrooy on injuries, January transfers and the FA Cuppublished at 12:29 9 January

    Holly Bacon
    BBC Sport journalist

    Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game against QPR (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • There are no fresh injury concerns; Kasey McAteer is "back in full team training and if he can continue that, he could be available for the game." Jannik Vestergaard is doubtful, while there is "no update" on injured goalkeeper Mads Hermansen who will be "out for a bit longer".

    • On whether Leicester are close to signings in January: "We're in the middle of the process. It's clear what we want and where we want to strengthen. We're working on that day and night. I see the importance of it. I also feel a strong responsibility to get the right players in, in the right positions, where I feel it's important for the squad and for the club in the long term. It's a delicate process. It takes time. It requires a lot of effort and work to bring in the right players."

    • On the type of players they want to recruit: "What I've tried to do here with the coaching staff has been to create a style of play and players who fit into that are the profiles that can make our play better and can get us to better results. Those are the profiles we have been talking about with recruitment and also with the people responsible for signing these players. That has all been cleared and done, then the search began. It started in mid-December, right when I came in, and hopefully we can present something soon but it has to be the right thing."

    • Van Nistelrooy said he is a "proud winner" of the FA Cup: "I know how much it meant to me to win it with Manchester United. The games you play, tough games, now there are no replays, straight into penalties but it's a fantastic tournament to be a part in. It's important to take it very seriously. We plan to win every game we approach but we have to look at the condensed schedule, what is important and resting players or players with little injuries. That won't change, we'll keep doing that. Of course we have to say the Premier League games for this club are vital."

    • On team selection: "We'll address the squad over the coming days. It's important to keep our development going. We want to break the current run of defeats. We want to do well, play well and gain confidence. Those are all parts I'm thinking about and then I'll make decisions about selection."

    • Van Nistelrooy said QPR's upturn in form in the Championship is a "great example of how things can turn around when you keep working and doing what you believe in".

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

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  2. 🎧 How to remove individual errorspublished at 17:20 7 January

    When You're Smiling podcast graphic

    The latest When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

    BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin and former Foxes winger Matt Piper are joined by a fan to reflect on the defeat by Aston Villa.

    Plus they discuss how to remove individual errors in the team and whether Ruud van Nistelrooy can find a Robert Huth-style player in the January transfer window to tighten the defence.

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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  3. Leicester 'never do things the easy way'published at 12:38 7 January

    Kate Blakemore
    Fan writer

    Leicester City fan's voice banner
    Ruud van NistelrooyImage source, PA Media

    Consecutive fixtures of Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa would see most teams struggle to pick up points. Add a relegation scrap into the mix and the likelihood of points becomes even lower.

    However, after taking the lead at Anfield and going toe to toe with City in what was arguably our best performance of the season, I think most fans felt reasonably confident something could be obtained at Villa Park.

    However, when you are struggling for form and confidence, and individual errors are becoming an unwanted appearance in your repertoire, things never go quite to plan.

    The booing of players has become a talking point for the second time in a month for the Foxes - not what you want to see when you are fighting for your lives. Fans can be the 12th man and often galvanise the team; something Leicester desperately need right now.

    The profit and sustainability rumour mill has started once again with the submission of our latest accounts, but we must remain focused on the task at hand - 17th place or above by securing as many points as possible. Avoiding relegation may just keep those salivating PSR wolves at bay, but who knows?

    Ruud van Nistelrooy's Rome was not built in a day, but it also was not built without the tools of new personnel to refresh the squad. The January window is a tricky time to do this, with few players wanting to move and even fewer players wanting a part in a relegation scrap, not to mention a premium surge for those 'panic buys'.

    Leicester never do things the easy way, but in the last few games we are seeing some better play. We just have to hope any reinforcements are quick to arrive, hit the ground running and make an immediate impact as the race for survival intensifies.

    Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.