The race for second place hots up as Manchester City travel to Leicester

The current Premier League champions are looking highly likely to settle for second place but them dreams may be crushed with Leicester City being right on their tail.

Last time out for Foxes, they were held to a 0-0 draw against Wolves in a game that saw Leicester lose yet another defensive midfielder with Hamza Chodbury being sent off.

Manchester City made light work of West Ham on Wednesday night as they dispatched the Hammers 2-0. Goals from Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne secured the three points for the Citizens.

Team news

Leicester are short of defensive midfielders, with Nampalys Mendy and Wilfred Ndidi both injured and Hamza Choudhury serving a one-match ban.

Matty James is in contention to play his first game for 13 months, while Ryan Bennett is available after being ineligible against parent club Wolves.

Manchester City will be without David Silva, who was forced off against West Ham with a minor knee problem.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is available after missing that match through suspension.

Wingers Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane are nearing returns, but this game comes too soon for them.

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will miss the City clash.

“Wilf won’t be available for the weekend,” the Northern Irishman said. “He’s still in a process to try and get fit so we’ll see how he is next week. I’m not sure.

“He’s doing work inside, but you then have to progress that to outside and then when he can join the team. It’s another intensity to join the team and then to play.

“We just want to make sure he’s right because he’s such an important player for us. It’s about the long term too. There’s no timeline on it. We’ll see how he progresses.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his team will have to be especially vigilant to deal with the threat of ‘exceptional’ Leicester striker Jamie Vardy in Saturday’s Premier League trip to the King Power Stadium.

“Because we play 40 metres in front and it’s perfect for him – but he (Vardy) scores against all the teams, he is exceptional,” said Pep Guardiola.

“He’s one of the best strikers that I’ve seen, with his movement, high pressing, his finishing skills.”

Head-to-head

This will be the 100th league match between the sides. Leicester beat Manchester City at home last season but have lost five of the past six league meetings.