Leicester v Brighton preview
Last Updated: September 16, 2011 11:44am
Gallagher (left): On the sidelines for City
Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between Leicester and Brighton at the King Power Stadium.
Jermaine Beckford and Paul Konchesky are expected to be fit for Leicester.
Striker Beckford, who made his full debut against Barnsley last weekend, and defender Konchesky both limped off late in the 1-1 draw at Oakwell but their problems were not serious.
However, the same cannot be said of Paul Gallagher, who faces up to five weeks on the sidelines after the club confirmed he damaged ankle ligaments in south Yorkshire. He was replaced at half-time by Andy King who, after making an immediate impact by scoring City's equalising goal against the Tykes, could come into the starting line-up.
Fellow midfielder Michael Johnson stepped up his recovery from a sore knee by completing 90 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Derby on Wednesday afternoon.
Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson also took the opportunity to give some of his first-team squad a run-out in the game, with Matt Oakley, Lloyd Dyer, Lee Peltier, Sean St Ledger and Yuki Abe all featuring in the 3-2 win.
Defender Michael Ball sustained a calf injury in training last week but could return to contention. However, striker David Nugent remains absent with the hamstring injury he suffered against Southampton at the end of last month.
Brighton striker Will Hoskins is available.
The summer signing from Bristol Rovers has managed just 15 minutes of action so far this season due to a hip injury but is now fit again.
However, with the Seagulls sitting at the top of the table following a flying start to the campaign, boss Gus Poyet admits he might not be able to find room for Hoskins in his squad.
Wednesday night's Carling Cup date with Liverpool, when Poyet can name two extra substitutes, looks a more likely chance for Hoskins to make his comeback.
Poyet has no new injury concerns with just central defenders Adam El-Abd (foot) and Tommy Elphick (Achilles) in the treatment room.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
