Stop throwing ‘stupid’ points away at home
CASTAGNE WANTS IMPROVEMENT IN KING POWER STADIUM FORM
TIMOTHY Castagne is back and ready to help Leicester City stop throwing away “stupid points”.
Summer signing Castagne made his first City appearance in eight weeks in the 2-0 win at Spurs following his recovery from a hamstring injury.
That victory in north London was the club’s sixth on the road in the Premier League already this season, but rather than congratulate themselves on a fine away record, Castagne and his team-mates are focused on correcting the iffy home form.
City have already lost four games at the King Power Stadium, the same number as in the whole of last season, and to sides they would expect to beat: Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham and Everton.
“We have to be better at home, because we’re doing very well away,” Castagne told LCFC TV.
“We have to take away what we’re doing against the big teams.
“We’re playing well but we have to do better against the smaller clubs; there are no small teams in the Premier League but the lower tier. We have to stop losing stupid points.
“(The win at Spurs) proves that if we’re at our best, we can do everything. We have to be more consistent.
“It’s pretty good (to be second at Christmas) but the most important thing is we have to be second at the end of the season.
“We have to look at the next game now and not think too much about second place. But we can do something good this year.”
To improve that home form, City must beat a side that has won every away fixture so far: Manchester
United.
City host the Red Devils on Boxing Day and while Castagne was eased back in with a 60-minute run-out at Tottenham, he believes he will be ready for the second-against-third clash.
“It’s good to be back and especially with a win against a very good side,” he said. “It feels very good. I’ve missed it and when you can play again it’s great.
“You see your team-mates and you want to help but you cannot so hopefully it’s not going to happen any more and I can help as much as I can.
“We have six days before Manchester United so there’s time. We’ll see how they want to manage it but I felt good and think I’ll be good for Manchester United.”
Jamie Vardy will also be fit and ready to continue his fine season so far when City host Manchester United.
Vardy, who scored his 13th goal of the campaign in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Tottenham, had been substituted at the end of the fixture with pain in his hip, where he has a recurring problem.
But after the issue was given a couple of days to settle down, Vardy is comfortable again and will be ready to play on Boxing Day.
“He’ll be fine for the game,” manager Brendan Rodgers said at his press conference yesterday.
“He just had a little bit of soreness in that area which he’s had a few times, but he’ll be okay.”
Rodgers added that it would likely be the same squad from that victory in north London, with Caglar Soyuncu pushing for a return, but with the centre-back possibly held back for the trip to Crystal Palace just 48 hours after City host United.
Rodgers said: “Soyuncu may be close but if he’s not ready for Saturday, he could be available for the Monday game, which is great. He’s training and working well.”
That would leave Ricardo Pereira as the sole unavailable player in what will be, for once, a well-rested squad.
For the first time in five weeks, City do not have a midweek fixture to prepare for, so have nearly a full week to get ready for United.
Rodgers added: ““It’s one of the only weeks we’ve had a break since we started. It gives us a chance to recover some players which can help of course. That will allow us to be fraction fresher for the weekend.”