PUEL: MAHREZ HAS NEW POWER SURGE

CLAUDE PUEL claims Riyad Mahrez’s Leicester troubles are in the past.

The Foxes boss insists Mahrez (below) has moved on from last summer when he demanded to leave the King Power Stadium.

The Algeria international failed to get his wish, despite issuing a public statement demanding the chance to move on.

Now, new boss Puel says Mahrez has put the saga behind him.

“It’s finished – that was last summer,” said

Puel, whose team are at West Ham tonight.

“Now he’s concentrating on this season and he’s keeping a good focus. When I speak to him, I can see he is a player who loves the game.

“He has questions about football, about teams, about strategy. This is the most important thing, when a player likes his work and likes his job, it’s fantastic.

“There were some problems, last summer for example, but now it’s gone because he likes football and he works hard on the pitch.

“We also have a good understanding between us, but I think it is important to discuss things with all the players.

“And it’s not just football. I think it’s important to speak about the family and how they live as well.”

Puel’s men will face a Hammers side in crisis after new boss David Moyes lost his first game in charge, with fans turning on the board.

The Foxes manager lost his own job at Southampton, despite an eighth-place finish and a League Cup final appearance.

But he said: “It is the evolution of the Premier League. Often directors make a decision after just two or three defeats.

“As managers, our work is to develop the team, but we know it is perhaps for a short time.”