Leicester 'still have fighting spirit'

Steve Guppy believes the famous fighting spirit ingrained into Leicester by Martin O’Neill is still evident – and can help keep the Foxes in the Barclaycard Premiership.

Guppy was part of the Leicester team which became renowned for the never-say-die attitude which O’Neill brought to the club, when four successive top 10 Premiership finishes and three League Cup finals were achieved.

The 34-year-old winger has returned from Celtic under different circumstances, with Leicester currently lying in the bottom three – but he has found the same kind of team mentality in the current squad.

Guppy said: “I think most teams claim to have a fighting spirit, but Leicester City do have that ingredient that brings the boys together.

“We had it under Martin O’Neill when I was here and, although I’ve only been back a short time, I can already feel the togetherness in this squad.

“The fighting spirit can take us a long way and I think we have got a good chance of staying in the Premiership.”

Meanwhile, Leicester manager Micky Adams has revealed transfer fees to be paid out for the services of Steve Howey and Ben Thatcher to Manchester City and Tottenham respectively depend on whether the club stay in the top flight.

The duo came to the Walkers Stadium last summer among a dozen signings made at that time by Adams after he had steered Leicester back into the Premier League.

“I’ve paid nothing out at the moment,” Adams confirmed. “We haven’t given anyone any money.

“The fees for Howey and Thatcher are dependent on us staying in the Premiership. I’d be delighted to go and take the money myself if we stay up.”