Former Leicester City goalkeeper Kevin Poole, 50, to come out of retirement
Ipswich Town 1 Leicester City 2 - Championship predictions: How did you score?
Name | Weeks Played | Correct Scores | Correct Results | Points |
foxmanlondon | 7 | 14 | 22 | 64 |
Alanprichard | 8 | 8 | 31 | 55 |
Luxpaul | 8 | 8 | 31 | 55 |
Sharpe | 9 | 8 | 31 | 55 |
foxeerod | 9 | 8 | 26 | 50 |
LCFCMike | 7 | 5 | 33 | 48 |
FoxUlike | 4 | 5 | 17 | 32 |
heath34uk | 4 | 5 | 16 | 31 |
USA_Mark | 2 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
DaveOakham | 3 | 1 | 16 | 19 |
carlnicol1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 17 |
Patchwork | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
acullingham | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
Relfy99 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
PLYMFOX01 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
ash1967 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
SeymourK | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Police keep open mind on how man found in Leicester city centre underpass suffered head injuries
Police tackle surge in thefts from cars in Belgrave, Leicester
Returning prop Marcos Ayerza relishing challenge with Leicester Tigers
Argentina prop Marcos Ayerza says the size of the task facing Leicester Tigers is an added motivating factor on his return to club action.
The 30-year-old loose-head is back from four months representing his country in the Rugby Championship and autumn internationals.
With the birth of his first child, Mercedes, coming in between the two tournaments, it has been a busy time for the veteran of seven seasons at Welford Road.
However, any suggestions of tiredness on a mental or physical scale are quickly dispelled by a man who will be closing in on 200 appearances for his club by the end of this campaign.
"The intensity of the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup is massive, but there is also a huge amount of excitement involved with those sort of big games coming up," said Ayerza.
"There are moments throughout the year that you really look forward to and these are some of them.
"We have to get into the play-offs in the league and beat Montpellier in Europe.
"They are both amazing challenges.
"Those sort of challenges make you forget about the tiredness and mental toughness of a long season.
"The competition is now and we have to respond.
"As a team, we have some important games coming up in both the Premiership and Europe.
"The challenge for me personally is that the internationals are over now.
"It now time to concentrate on Leicester. That is my club and I want to do my best for them."
Boris Stankovich is in possession of the No.1 shirt but, with Logovi'i Mulipola still out with injury, Ayerza is likely to return to the match-day squad at Kingsholm on Friday, as Tigers face a Gloucester side struggling in 10th place in the Premiership table.
Ayerza cannot wait to get back into action in a Tigers shirt. "Gloucester is one of the toughest places in the world to go and play rugby," he said.
"If they get momentum from their crowd, they can play good rugby and show that they are a good side.
"We have to stick to what we know we can do well and give them no time or space."
Tigers' AGM is taking place at Welford Road tonight at 6.30pm.
Club officials will discuss an operating profit of £396,000 in the financial year for 2012-13 – a strong turnaround from a £1million loss the previous year. Their results were based on a turnover of £19m – up from £17.3m in 2012.
Season-ticket numbers for the 2012-13 season also reached an all-time high of 14,732.
Cricket: Leicestershire CCC learn fixtures for new-look 2014 season
There is a new look to the 2014 cricket season, which Leicestershire will kick off on April 6 with a home County Championship match against Derbyshire.
As well as 16 championship matches, County face 14 games – seven at home – in the T20 competition.
The other one-day competition sees them taking part in eight 50-over matches in a mid-summer block ahead of potential quarter-finals, semi-finals and a Lord's final. "I think the season is well-balanced," said County chief executive Mike Siddall.
"We are reasonably happy with the way the fixtures have come out.
"It is a new structure to the year, so we will have to see how it goes."
Attendances were up at Grace Road during last season's T20 competition, as the Foxes turned in some entertaining displays.
This time they have seven games in which to attract the crowds, and Siddall believes the opportunity is there for Josh Cobb's side to do that.
"We have five games on Fridays, one on a Sunday and one on a Thursday – which is against Notts," he said.
"They are spread out from May 16 to July 25, and I think that is good for the spectator.
"Under the old system, we might have had two or three home games in a week, and that put pressure on the pocket, with people choosing to come to one of the three but not all of them. There is good spacing in between games now."
The Foxes' T20 opener sees them host Derbyshire on May 16.
The move from a 40-over competition to 50 overs has not won universal approval in the game.
However, it is the route the ECB have opted to take and the fact that there is a quarter-final stage should help stimulate interest in the competition.
Derbyshire also provide the opposition at Grace Road when Leicestershire kick off the 50-over Cup on July 27.
Away from the domestic calendar, the undoubted highlight of the year is the visit of India to Grace Road for a three-day fixture, the tourists' first match in this country as they prepare for a Test series with England.
The game begins on June 26 and, although tickets are not on sale until early next year, Siddall reports a good early response to the prospect of such a high-profile visit.
"There has been lots of interest from a corporate perspective and we will be looking to build some momentum towards that game in the new year," he said.
Welcome fitness boost for Leicester Tigers as three set for return against Gloucester
Leicester Tigers have received a boost ahead of Friday's crucial Aviva Premiership visit to Gloucester.
Argentinian internationals Marcos Ayerza and Pablo Matera are both back from representing the Pumas in the autumn series.
Meanwhile, Fijian winger Niki Goneva should be fit for selection after missing six weeks with a calf injury.
Add to that the fact that centre Matt Smith's hamstring injury is not as bad as the club feared and, for once, director of rugby Richard Cockerill has had some good news on the injury front ahead of the visit to Kingsholm. "Smith's injury was not quite as bad as we first thought," said Cockerill. "The hamstring strain was quite a mild one, so within the next couple of weeks he will be fit to play.
"That is good news and Niki Goneva should be fit for us this week, too.
"Marcos and Pablo are also both back and raring to go."
Tongan flanker Steve Mafi, however, will not be back in contention as he continues to deal with personal issues surrounding the birth of his child in Australia.
The 23-year-old was expected to be back this week and Cockerill admitted that his continued absence was "frustrating".
"Steve has some personal issues to deal with and sort out, so I am leaving him to do that," said Cockerill.
"It has been going on for a month now and, at some point, that has to come to a resolution.
"Of course, I will give him time to get all of those things sorted but, at some point, life must go on.
"It never rains, it pours. While we have our injury problems, Steve is fit and healthy but not available.
"He has some issues with his wife and son back in Australia, which he needs to sort out.
"If that was you or I, we would say those things are more important and have to come first.
"Frustrating as it is, it's the right thing he stays there and that is the most important thing at this stage."
One of the league's most respected referees, Greg Garner, will take charge of a Gloucester versus Leicester fixture which has seen its fair share of controversy and yellow cards over the past few seasons.
The Cherry & Whites have won just two Premiership games in 2013-14 and sit in 10th place, just one point above London Irish.
For sixth-placed Leicester, the game represents a chance for them to put pressure on those sides above them in a group of four sides which are separated by just four points.
Inside football: Young Leicester City academy players showing their quality
For any club, the development of young players coming through the ranks is becoming an increasing importance, and there are some good signs at Leicester City that more homegrown players are coming through the system.
The emergence of academy products Liam Moore and Jeff Schlupp in the past two seasons has certainly demonstrated the club's youth structure is bearing fruit, and will act as encouragement for the club's academy players aspiring to follow in their footsteps.
Academy director Jon Rudkin believes there is a clear pathway developing from the academy to first-team level at the club, and said there were some exciting prospects coming through the youth development programme.
City have several young players who have earned international call-ups, with one 18-year-old having already become a full international.
Tall striker Simonas Stankevicius was promoted from the Lithuanian Under-21s last week to make his full debut in a friendly against Moldova.
Stankevicius has been with the club for two years, having been spotted through City's widening scouting system.
Closer to home, City are having similar success with three schoolboys called into the England under-16 set-up.
Striker Admiral Muskwe, defender Darnell Johnson and winger Layton Ndukwu have all pulled on the Three Lions during the Victory Shield tournament this season.
Muskwe, from St Paul's Catholic School, is in his last year at under-16 level and went on as a substitute in England's 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland in Bournemouth this month.
Fullhurst Community College pupil Johnson, a big central defender and godson of former City favourite Emile Heskey, another of the club's youth products, captained England that day.
Ndukwu, from City of Leicester School, played in the victory against Wales. Both are still under-15s, but Ndukwu has already played in the City under-18 side this season and has been selected for the England squad for the prestigious Nike International tournament in Florida next month, where they will face the USA, Brazil and Portugal. Darnell is on the stand-by list.
"These are three young players who have been with us since the age of eight and have come through the system from the under-nines team," said Rudkin.
"It is the same pathway that Liam Moore has followed.
"He has been here from a very young age and is now showing to other young players the pathway that exists here.
"Jeff Schlupp was aged 11 when he came to the club. We have a manager who is quite prepared to throw them in if they are playing well.
"That sends a strong message through the club and it is an exciting one. The selection for Layton to go to America and play is fantastic.
"To travel such distance and play in a tournament against such countries as Portugal and Brazil is a great opportunity.
"It will be a great experience and it will benefit his development and our young groups."
The achievement is not a one-off. Last season, City had three youth players feature in the England Under-16s squad – Brandon Fox, Keenan King and Carl Bailey, and it isn't just England who are benefiting.
Two more under-15s, Cameron Yates and Dominic Brown-Hill, have also been selected by Scotland for a training camp.
Rudkin said the call-ups had been recognition for the hard work of the players and coaching staff at City.
"We are very proud as an academy to have so many go on to play internationally," added Rudkin. "There are a number of young players who are developing very well.
"They are aware of how far there is still to go and it is very important they remain focused and keep doing what has got them these opportunities.
"Successful players will always say how hard they have had to work to get there.
"That is emphasised to the young players every day."
Kasabian: Excitement building ahead of huge Leicester gig at Victoria Park
It may be seven months before the big day, but excitement is already building ahead of Kasabian's homecoming gig at Victoria Park.
As the Mercury announced exclusively yesterday, a crowd of 35,000 will descend on the Leicester park on June 21 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band releasing their first album.
The rock gods, who hail from Countesthorpe and Blaby, were at De Montfort Hall and Victoria Park for photoshoots yesterday to promote the event.
Their fans have been sharing their excitement over the gig with the Mercury, both in person and via our website.
Phil Ollerenshaw, 45, a civil servant from Mountsorrel, said: "I'm a huge Kasabian fan. I will be buying tickets to see them, or rather my partner will be as I will be at work in a meeting when they go on sale! Either way, I am determined to get some."
Finance manager Gareth Smart, 39, from Countesthorpe, said: "I am really excited to get my tickets for Kasabian and I will definitely be going to see them.
"I live near where one of the band members is from and I think it is only right that we support our local talent."
University of Leicester medical student Zac Tyler, 22, who lives in Clarendon Park, said: "I'm so glad to hear they're doing this in their hometown.
"Also, Victoria Park is a great venue to host it.
"After the very intimate gig that was held last year in the Leicester O2, this is going to be huge in comparison.
"Also, it's something for everyone."
It will be the biggest gig the band have ever performed in Leicestershire.
In recent years, they have put on shows at De Montfort Hall and the O2 Academy at the University of Leicester student union.
Kevin Sheperdson, owner of The Old Horse pub next to Victoria Park, is also looking forward to the gig.
He said: "I think this gig will be a great thing.
"A lot of the carnivals that used to be held on the park have dwindled because of costs and cut backs.
"After losing the City of Culture bid, it's great to have this come about."
Jason Spencer, who works at Sheehans music store further down London Road, said: "To have something as huge as this will be brilliant for the city.
"This is pretty much the biggest musical thing in Leicester since I can remember.
"It's usually Nottingham or Birmingham which get the big gigs like this, so to see them do this in their home town is fantastic.
"And if the whole thing goes down well, well, who knows who else will come?"
Fans also commented on the Leicester Mercury website.
SuperJack13 wrote: "It is nice to see the boys haven't forgotten their roots and I am sure the event will be marvellous", while Lindaloo1 said: "Best news I've heard in ages. Welcome back boys, you never disappoint."
Tickets for the gig are priced at £39.50 and go on sale on Friday at 9am. Visit:
www.livenation.co.uk
For a look back at pictures of previous big gigs at Victoria Park click here