BOOTY-FUL GAME SUITS DANNY BOY

STOKE boss Mark Hughes believes he could still land Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph. Hughes (left) almost signed the England international in the summer and still hopes to resurrect the deal. Delph was close to joining the Potters on a season-long loan, but eventually decided to stay at City. “We’ve missed out on players before and they’ve ended up coming here,” said Hughes. “It’s a decision Fabian made. It didn’t happen this time, but you never know. Things change.” LEICESTER’S milestone man Danny Simpson is a throwback to a time when defenders would boot wingers into the stand.

That’s the view of Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare as the right-back prepares to play his 100th game for the club on Monday, at home to West Brom.

Simpson (above) has made 69 interceptions this season, the highest in the Premier League, and Shakespeare says he relishes a rumble with opposition wingers.

“A throwback? Yes, possibly,” said the City chief, 53. “He enjoys defending – if ever we do a defending session, he loves it.

“A lot of up-and-coming full-backs enjoy the attacking side of it – not so much the defending, but Danny does.

“You know if the opposition have a tricky winger, Danny will give everything and, one against one, he’s very good.”

Shakespeare admits Simpson’s sometimes turbulent private life can cloud opinions on him.

But he is convinced the former Newcastle defender has cleaned up his act.

Simpson was sentenced to 300 hours of community service after assaulting Stephanie Ward – his thengirlfriend and mother of his daughter – in May 2015.

“Danny evokes different thoughts because of his private life,” said Shakespeare. “But he’s been a pleasure to coach.”

West Brow boss Tony Pulis insists fallen champs Leicester should still be feared despite a slow start to the season.

The 2016 title winners have won just one of their opening seven League matches and are only out of the drop zone on goal difference.

But ahead of Monday night’s televised clash, Pulis said: “We know it will be a competitive game.

“If you look at them, with Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Jamie Vardy – people all through the backbone of that team – they’ve been exceptional.”