Premiership: I can help Akinbiyi - Deane

Leicester City’s latest signing Brian Deane believes he can help to bring the best out of goal-shy strike partner Ade Akinbiyi as he gears up for his Foxes debut at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Deane has been brought in by Dave Bassett for a nominal fee from Middlesbrough to try and improve City’s woeful tally of just seven goals in 14 Premiership games the worst record in all four divisions.

Akinbiyi has contributed only one towards that meagre total with the winner against Sunderland at Filbert Street a month ago and he has been linked with a move back to his former club Wolves.

But Deane feels Akinbiyi can be a potent force and the pair are likely to start in tandem against John Gregory’s side.

Deane, who scored more than 80 league goals in five seasons with Bassett at Sheffield United, said: ‘‘I think I might be able to help Ade.

‘‘If you ask any of the defenders in the league, then you won’t find many who like playing against Ade. He can be quite a handful.

‘‘I just think he’s been a bit unlucky and sometimes, when you are in a situation where you are desperate to score, it becomes harder.

‘‘But from the short time I’ve been with him I think he feels a lot better in himself, is feeling a lot more confident and I would like to think I can help him.’’

Akinbiyi’s own faith in his ability remains unwavered and he believes he will soon start scoring on a more regular basis.

He said: ‘‘I am definitely getting more chances than I did at the start of the season. In the first few games we were just relying on one chance but it’s not like that now.

‘‘The other week I had four or five chances against the champions (Manchester United) and it will only be a matter of time before I start putting more and more away.’’

Leicester’s current plight may be desperate but Deane knows from past experiences there is no such thing as a lost cause.

He said: ‘‘The one season at Sheffield United we went up to Christmas before winning a game. We got four points from 17 games and we still stayed up.

‘‘We had the second best record in the league after Christmas that season and stayed up comfortably and I’m sure we can get out of trouble here.’’

Bassett dropped a big hint that Deane will be plunged straight into the starting line-up despite a groin niggle and precious few opportunities in his latter days at Middlesbrough.

He said: ‘‘Deano might find himself in the front-line a little bit earlier because the others haven’t scored so it might be that he initially gets the nod for a couple of games before the others.

‘‘But if any two of them can show me which is the best partnership, then I will be more than happy. I don’t mind who it is.’’

Bassett is anticipating a battle royal at Villa despite their shock home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday in the Worthington Cup in midweek.

He said: ‘‘They will be disappointed with the Sheffield result but they are having a decent season. I am not expecting anything other than a very hard game.

‘‘But I am looking forward to it and so are the players. It’s a good arena and it’s up to us to go there and win it. That’s what we’re going to try and do. They’ve got some decent players but we are not frightened.’’

Midfielder Muzzy Izzet, a recent target for Villa, is the biggest injury worry for Bassett after injuring his neck in training.