Caretaker Stowell reminds Foxes just how good they are

Interim manager Mike Stowell has challenged the Leicester squad to get themselves back in contention for a top-seven finish.

The first team and goalkeeper coach has been placed in temporary charge, along with fellow first-team coach Adam Sadler, following Claude Puel’s dismissal.

Puel was dismissed on Sunday morning, hours after the 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace. The result saw the club’s board pressed into action due to their alarming drop down the Premier League table.

The loss was Leicester’s sixth in their last seven matches, a run that has seen them knocked out of the FA Cup by Newport while slipping to 12th in the Premier League, eight points above the relegation zone.

“I’ve spoken to the players and told them how good they are and reminded them that they are a top-seven team. That’s where we should be and that’s where we should be aiming to get back to,” said Stowell at his pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s home game against Brighton.

“It’s good that there is a game coming up so quickly but the players are professional and that’s the focus. They know they need to step up and go again against Brighton.”

Asked if he thought the players needed reminding because he thought they had let Puel down, Stowell said: “It’s always sad when a manager loses his job but I wouldn’t say that the players let him down.

“Our performances have been good. We outplayed Tottenham at Wembley and outplayed Manchester United here, I thought.

“We just didn’t get the rub of the green sometimes and when mistakes happen they are not made deliberately.”

It is understood Leicester are keeping all options while they conduct their search for Puel’s permanent successor.

There have been reports that an interim boss could be brought in for the remaining Premier League matches until the end of the season.

Stowell does not know if the home game against Brighton will be his only one in charge.

He said: “We’ve been told, me and Adam, to take charge against Brighton and that’s it so far - and that’s what we will do.”