Leicester City vs Crystal Palace preview - No Huth for Foxes

Posted Friday, February 06, 2015 by PA

Robert Huth is suspended so cannot make his Leicester debut against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The defender, who signed on loan from Stoke on deadline day, was banned for two games and fined B#15,000 by the Football Association after breaching rules in relation to social media comments, and is halfway through the suspension.

Matty James is available after suspension, Riyad Mahrez is back following Algeria's African Nations Cup campaign and Matt Upson is available after a long-term foot injury.

They return with Leicester in desperate need of a home win after just two league victories at the King Power Stadium this term.

The record does not do the Foxes justice and it is a source of frustration for boss Nigel Pearson.

"We are aware of the fact our home form has to improve, there's no doubt about it. Before a ball is kicked you know your home performances and results are going to be very important," Pearson said.

"We haven't played that badly, that's one of the things which has been frustrating for us. We have had plenty of good performances but the results haven't always come. We're confident that will change."

Palace come to Leicester unbeaten in five games since Alan Pardew was appointed last month.

Pearson is out to end Pardew's fine start, although he admits the pressure is on his Foxes team.

"People would look at a game like Saturday, whatever camp you sit in, and hope your team is capable of winning," he said.

"In some ways that puts more pressure on games like this. Ultimately, at our best, we are going to be a difficult team to play against.

"We have a healthy respect for people and on their day Palace are a very capable side. We have to make sure we're getting our home form right and pick up three points.

"We have been in the bottom spot for a while so it's always an incentive to know three points gives you a chance to progress."

Pardew will throw non-league signing Keshi Anderson straight into the squad.

Anderson, 19, joined Palace on deadline day from Barton Rovers, who play in Southern League Division One Central - seven tiers below the top flight.

The striker has scored 19 goals for Rovers this season but secured his move after notching a six-minute hat-trick against Palace in a trial match for Brentford.

"Six minutes isn't bad is it? He's just got a chance, that's what it is," Pardew said.

"It's an opportunity for him, he trained with us today and I've put him in the squad tomorrow.

"It'll be good experience for him to come to see what goes on and his headlights are still full on."

Palace will be without captain Mile Jedinak for the trip to the Foxes after the midfielder returned from helping Australia win the Asian Cup with a sore ankle.

Yannick Bolasie is also unavailable. The winger is at the African Nations Cup with DR Congo, who play a third-place play-off on Saturday.