Returning anchorman can spark a boon in Leicester’s away form

The immediate response of any pundit analysing a Leicester away game this season has been that the Foxes are missing N’Golo Kante. But it goes further than that. They’re missing the man signed to replace him too.

Nampalys Mendy has only played 53 minutes of Premier League football this season, having injured his ankle on debut against Arsenal earlier in the campaign. But he’s nearing a return to action, which is a boon to Leicester’s 9/1-rated top-six chances.

Having the former Nice star back on board will surely boost a Foxes side that are in polar-opposite form away from home compared to at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester are the worst team in the top flight on the road, having lost all four games and conceding 13 of 15 goals in total so far in the campaign.

However, excuses can be made for all of those outings, as three came against sides with top-four aspirations in Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.

The first defeat was against Hull, where perhaps a title hangover could explain away the result, but more likely was down to the absence of both Mendy and Daniel Amartey, who has deputised for the Frenchman since his injury.

An unbeaten run at home and the fact that Claudio Ranieri’s men top Champions League Group G with maximum points from three assignments show that the Premier League title holders remain a capable side.

If anything they are perhaps guilty of going into big away games with too little protection, something Kante clearly provided in abundance and Mendy is expected to replicate.

Once the Frenchman returns it would be no surprise to see Leicester’s road form improve, and their 9/1 price about a top-six finish shrink.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing