Leicestershire

Chris Peddy
BBC Sport England at The Valley

Image source, PA Media

Leicester City head coach Marti Cifuentes said the club want to keep Abdul Fatawu beyond the end of the transfer window.

The Ghana international scored a sumptuous winner in the Foxes' 1-0 win away at Charlton on Saturday.

Fatawu, 21, has been linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium, as has Bilal El Khannouss, who was deemed not ready to play against the Addicks by Cifuentes.

"It was a fantastic goal that summarises really clearly what Abdul means for us, extreme quality especially in the last third," Cifuentes told BBC Sport England.

"We played against a team that was very aggressive in the high press, very physical, it can create some frustration because everything is happening around our box.

"For me today the most important thing is that we took a step forward in the identity and culture that I want to build at the club.

"I saw a team that, despite there is 100 things we can do better, and that's on me, I saw a team that cared, that wanted to work hard for each other, we had to defend low and make a run with each other for it.

"And for me that's the most important, that connection with the fans, the fans played their part, they were really strong throughout the game and that sets the foundation.

"It was far from perfect. But what we can learn from this one is stronger than just having a fantastic game and winning 4-0."

On speculation linking Fatawu with a move away from the club, Cifuentes added: "It's a lot of speculation around most of our players.

"That means they're good players and we know that. There are rumours and speculation around them. The target is we arrive on 1 September in a good position with a team we want to have.

"There are some key players we want to keep, and Abdul is one of them."

Chris Peddy
BBC Sport England at The Valley

Image source, Rex Features

Charlton Athletic head coach Nathan Jones described the referee's decision to disallow Lloyd Jones' goal in his side's 1-0 defeat by Leicester City as a "Hans Christian Andersen fairytale".

Jones headed in to seemingly equalise after Abdul Fatawu had given the Foxes the lead but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the box.

Speaking to BBC Radio London, Jones said: "It's a one in a million strike to win the game for them but we had so many opportunities to have got something from the game and I think if we'd scored we'd have gone on to win the game.

"But that's the lesson. It's hard to be disappointed with the level of performance because if that was 5-1 it would probably have been a fair result.

"I thought we were totally dominant, it was just they demonstrated that ounce of quality that we didn't and that's why we're sitting here with no points.

"We've created enough chances to win three games and then the disallowed goal is an absolute travesty, I don't get it.

"I'm disappointed but I'm so proud because if that's our level then I'm excited about what we can achieve this season."

On the disallowed goal: "It's a fairytale, a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, an absolute fairytale. We caused them so many problems from set plays and that was another one.

"They were released from jail by an individual that I just can't comment on."

On Miles Leaburn replacing Charlie Kelman up front, Jones added: "It was tactical. Considering the level and where he was I thought he was truly outstanding in his play today.

"That was the decision. We've got real competition here, people have to keep at that level. There's no automatic choices and everyone has to compete."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Newly-promoted Charlton Athletic will look to continue their unbeaten start to the Championship season when they host Leicester City in Saturday's early kick-off (12:30 BST).

The Addicks have started solidly, picking up four points in their opening two fixtures, whilst Leicester City have begun inconsistently, winning one and losing one.

The Foxes are seeking their first away win on their return to the Championship after being relegated from the Premier League.

• Charlton Athletic have lost just one of their last 11 league games against Leicester City (W6 D4), scoring exactly two goals in each of those six victories

• Leicester City won their last league game against Charlton Athletic 3-0 in March 2014 and will be looking to record successive victories against the Addicks for the first time since October 1990.

• Charlton Athletic kept a clean sheet in both their opening Championship matches. The Addicks haven't kept three clean sheets across their opening three league games of a campaign in the top two tiers since 1998-99 in the Premier League.

• Leicester City have failed to win any of their last nine away league games (D2 L7), their longest run of losses on the road since a 15-match streak between May 2016 and February 2017.

• This game will be Charlton Athletic's 1,000th home league game in England's second tier, becoming the 20th side to hit that milestone and the first since Burnley last season.

Image source, Rex Features

Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes said full-backs Ricardo Pereira and James Justin could return from injury to play against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

New club captain Pereira, 31, is yet to feature for the Foxes this season due to a recurring hamstring injury.

"He was very eager to come with the team, so he travelled to Preston, but we didn't risk him. It's very good news for us," Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester.

Justin, 27, suffered a dead leg in Saturday's defeat at Preston North End and was substituted, but he could also feature at The Valley.

"He's progressing and we'll make a decision tomorrow," Cifuentes said.

Victor Kristiansen's fitness continues to be a source of concern for Cifuentes, however, with the Dane likely to remain unavailable for several weeks.

The 22-year-old is training away from the first-team squad as he looks to recover from an injury suffered in training.

Australian central defender Harry Souttar remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.