Leicester City must be flexible to deal with the challenge of the Premier League, manager Nigel Pearson has said.

City took on Rotherham last night in their penultimate pre-season friendly, and Pearson used the game to give a number of his side a full 90 minutes as they prepare for the opening Premier League game of the season at home to Everton in 10 days time.

As well as fitness, Pearson has also been using the pre-season schedule to look at various formations and he admits he wants as many tactical options as possible ahead of City's first Premier League campaign for a decade.

City utilised several different formations last season en route to the Championship title, but predominantly they used a 4-4-2 formation.

However, Pearson said he should not be tagged as a rigid 4-4-2 manager.

"From time to time we will have to use different formations," he said.

"I do get a little bit bemused how people pigeon-hole you as a manager or us as a team. We have played a lot of 4-4-2 football but we played a number of different formations last season.

"Clearly there will be times in the year when we have to find the right way of playing that gives us the best chance of winning games or being a problem for other sides.

"We will go into it with a method of how we do that but, ultimately, the spirit we have within the camp will help.

"Of course, you can't achieve anything on spirit alone, we will need a level of performance."

Pearson is certainly confident that his players will be able to rise to the challenge of facing the elite of English football.

"Our players are pretty upbeat about the prospects of playing in the Premier League," he said.

"We have a tough start, I know, but that is what we are here to do.

"We have worked hard to get ourselves there and now we want to give a good account of ourselves.

"Pre-season is about preparation and being competitive as a squad."

'If it ain't broke don't fix it' could easily be the motto of Leicester Tigers winger Blaine Scully.

That is not to say the American international believes he is the finished article – far from it.

It is more a comment on the fact that the 26-year-old is determined to display the same approach and attitude which helped him make such an impact at Welford Road last year.

Not that he has had a great deal of time to sit back and reflect on his Leicester performances last term.

He has had a busy stint with the USA national team, which has had three international outings during the course of the summer.

They lost to Scotland 24-6, then went down to Japan 37-29 in the Pacific Nations Cup. However, the Eagles rounded off matters with a win as they beat Canada 38-35 in the cup competition – a win made all the sweeter for Scully as it came in Sacramento, his home city.

He crossed for a brace of tries in that game and, with a hat-trick banked against the Japanese, he finished as the top try scorer in the competition with five to his name.

"The first game is always a bit of a lottery because of the players coming back from different places," said Scully.

"There was a bit of development against Japan and we got a win in the third Test we played, against Canada, which is always a big match for us. We hadn't beaten them for quite a while so it was good to get that under our belts.

"It's a feather in our caps and something we hope to do now a lot more often."

There was time for a break – and to put some 2015 wedding plans in place – before Scully returned to the Tigers fold and began his pre-season work at Oval Park.

"I pretty much have the same attitude," he said. "That is to show up and get better each day. That's the way I operate and I think it is the right way to do things.

"There are a lot of good players here competing for a limited number of spots, so it is a case of being the best that you can be."

Scully is most readily recognised on the wing but he hopes he has the ability to operate in a number of different positions for Tigers.

"I want to be out on the field," he said. "I'll be looking to continue to develop my core skills. I want to be one of those guys who can challenge for a lot of positions."

While he hones those all-round qualities, Scully and the rest of the squad will have their eyes on Saturday week when Tigers have their first competitive run-out with a trip to Nottingham.

The American flyer says things are shaping up nicely.

"Most of the guys have all been back for a week or two now, so we are starting to see things come together," he said.

Leicester City legend Gordon Banks has admitted he fears for the club's chances of survival in the Premier League this season.

The 1966 World Cup winner believes City's best chance of avoiding the drop may rest in the hands of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Banks has been a keen admirer of the Dane, who committed his future to City this summer by signing a new four-year contract, and was surprised Schmeichel, pictured, was not snapped up by a rival Premier League side.

"I'm very pleased for them, of course," said Banks, who made 293 league appearances for City.

"I've actually been to watch them play quite a bit in the last three years and Schmeichel has been the keeper. I have liked what I have seen, he looks the part.

"I'm surprised no one has been in and grabbed him, especially the Premier League teams. But I think it might be a bit too much if they have to rely too much on him."

Schmeichel even showed his heroics at the other end of the pitch last season, his late header rattling the bar to setting up a last-gasp equaliser against Yeovil – with Banks watching on in attendance.

But despite the fact City romped to the Championship title with more than 100 points, it was the performance as a team over 90 minutes against Yeovil that left Banks fearing for their chances this season.

"When I saw them against Yeovil, they were lucky to get a draw," he said.

"I said to my friend, 'I tell you what, they better play a little bit better than this or they'll come straight down'.

"It is really tough in that league and it is a totally different game. It is a really big step up to go into that Premier League with internationals and a lot are first-class.

"I hope they stay up but I wouldn't put money on it, I'm afraid."

Gordon Banks is a supporter of the StreetGames Football Pools Fives, a programme that takes football to young people in disadvantaged communities across the UK. Go to:

www.streetgames.org/footballpoolsfives/

Greg Smith's unbeaten 55 was not enough to save Leicestershire from a seven-wicket defeat by Group A leaders Gloucestershire in a Royal London One-Day Cup game reduced to 25 overs per side at Bristol.

The hosts reached a target of 131, revised under the Duckworth-Lewis system, with 13 balls to spare, skipper Michael Klinger leading the way with 55 not out.

Off-spinner Dan Redfern was the pick of the Leicestershire attack with 2-19 from five overs.

Rain delayed the start by an hour and then interrupted play with the Foxes 61-4 from 15 overs after losing the toss.

All four wickets fell to left-arm seamer David Payne in heavily overcast conditions.

A 3.45pm restart saw the Foxes struggle to 136-8, Smith bolstering the total at the end by hitting off-spinner Jack Taylor for four, six and four with the aid of two reverse sweeps in the final over.

Scott Styris contributed 29 off 24 balls, sweeping Taylor for six.

But in the final analysis, it was Payne's 4-23 from six overs, in which he conjured up swing and movement off the seam, before the rain break that proved decisive.

He had Niall O'Brien and Angus Robson caught behind, removed Matthew Boyce's off stump and bowled Dan Redfern off an inside edge as Leicestershire slipped to 31-4.

Smith and Shiv Thakor launched a mini recovery. But when the latter was caught behind for 11 from the first ball after the resumption, Gloucestershire tightened their grip.

By then the sun was shining and, although Smith, who faced 73 balls, ended the innings with a flourish, the hosts were never likely to be troubled by a required run-rate of only just over five and over.

Openers Klinger and Hamish Marshall ensured no early alarms with an opening stand of 46 inside nine overs, before Marshall advanced to a wide ball from Jigar Naik and was stumped for 22.

But Redfern then caused a wobble by striking twice in the 12th over, bowling Chris Dent on the back foot for seven and having Will Tavare caught at mid-wicket for four.

At 59-3, Gloucestershire needed 72 off 13 overs. But Klinger was still there and the experienced Australian found a reliable partner in Will Gidman, who was 39 not out when victory was sealed. Klinger faced 66 balls and hit five fours.

It was a day when the toss and the weather conspired against the Foxes.

Nigel Pearson said Leicester City are making good progress as they prepare to kick off the Premier League season.

Pearson has split his squad into two over the last two evenings to give all his players a full 90 minutes.

The City boss believes his players are now starting to find their form.

David Nugent and Marc Albrighton looked sharp at MK Dons on Monday night.

Nugent fired his fourth goal of the pre-season campaign, while Riyad Mahrez managed another 70 minutes after joining pre-season late following his World Cup exploits with Algeria.

And last night record signing Leonardo Ulloa scored twice as City beat Rotherham United 3-1 at the New York Stadium.

The Argentine looked a lot more like the player City have splashed out an initial £8 million on as he took his goals well and could have doubled his tally with an encouraging display.

"I thought Albrighton was very good and Nugent is in good form, which is very pleasing," said Pearson.

"I think Riyad, in flashes, is coming back into form.

"He just needs to make a few better decisions in terms of when to run with it and when to pass it.

"But that will come. He has had a long summer and some players come into form quicker than others.

"But overall it was a pretty good performance at Milton Keynes and the players are making good progress."

Pearson said there had been more intensity to City's play after the performance at Preston last weekend, which he was not entirely pleased with.

"We passed the ball better (at MK Dons) than we did at the weekend and the tempo was better," he said.

"I think we saw a lot more intensity, especially from the midfield unit.

"The two central midfield players were excellent both in and out of possession, which is going to be important for us in the Premier League in terms of ball retention and being able to work and keep our shape.

"These games give us the opportunity to give the first-team squad 90 minutes for each individual, which is what this part of pre-season is all about."

10.09am: Wigston - A5199 Leicester Road re-opened following accident this morning.

8.04am: Arriva Bus Service, Wigston : Services 47/49/49A/49B are being diverted due to an accident in Wakes Road. Buses diverted down Aylestone Lane and Carlton Drive.

7.55am: Wigston - A5199 Leicester Road, citybound side, is closed between the Wakes Road island and Highfield Drive due to an accident at the island. Police diverting traffic.

7.14am: There are currently no new incidents to report.

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A man has been taken to hospital following a car crashed in Wigston.

Firefighters were called to an accident involving one car Wakes Road near to the junction of Bull Head Street just after 6.45am this morning.

A car was on its roof and a man was trapped inside.

Crews released the man and he was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary by road ambulance.

A spokeswoman from Leicestershire Police said the man's injuries were not serious.

She said: "The man was back home by 9.15am after being discharged from hospital."

The road was closed between the Wakes Drive roundabout and Highfield Drive while firefighters recovered the car.

The road was re-opened just after 8am.

Record signing Leonardo Ulloa scored his first goals in a Leicester City shirt as Nigel Pearson's men claimed victory at Rotherham last night.

The Argentine striker demonstrated why City were so keen to sign him in a deal which is potentially worth £10 million, with two neat finishes inside 10 first-half minutes at The New York Stadium.

Danny Drinkwater was also on target for City as they continued their unbeaten build-up to the opening game of the Premier League season, but there were concerns for City when Anthony Knockaert had to be helped off the pitch in the second half with an injury.

After the win at MK Dons on Monday night it was the turn of the rest of Nigel Pearson's squad to get a full 90-minute work-out at The New York Stadium.

Only Jamie Vardy and Matt Upson were missing from the players who were not involved at Stadium:MK.

Vardy is still recovering from a thigh problem while Upson has not featured at all in pre-season because of a foot injury and the England international is unlikely to feature against Everton on the opening day of the season.

Vardy's absence gave a chance to youngster Tom Hopper to impress in a supporting role to record signing Leonardo Ulloa, who was given another run out as he integrates into the City squad after his £8 million move from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Rotherham were certainly a different proposition to MK Dons on Monday night.

Buoyed by their League One play-off success, the Millers were much more physical and direct than the Dons and City had to work hard to create many clear-cut chances.

At times they did put some excellent passing moves together but the Millers were proving stubborn opponents.

The breakthrough did come in the 29th minute. After arguably City's best period of possession and a sweeping move, Matty James's shot was blocked but the ball fell to Ulloa who dragged it out of his feet and beat Scott Loach with a neat finish.

The Argentine had another half chance before he doubled his tally nine minutes later when he was picked out by Ritchie De Laet's exquisite cross and Ulloa stooped low to head home from close range.

Former Nottingham Forest striker Matt Derbyshire had the best of the half chances for the hosts as he fed off giant centre forward Alex Revell, but Kasper Schmeichel remained largely untroubled.

The Millers almost reduced the arrears straight after the restart when Marcin Wasilewski tripped substitute Kieran Agard just outside the box and Agard curled the resulting free kick just wide.

Then Conor Newton tested Schmeichel, who skippered City on the night, with a dipping strike from long range.

Ulloa almost had his hat-trick in the 54th minute when De Laet slung in another dangerous cross and Ulloa's header was pushed around the post by substitute keeper Adam Collin, but the Millers were finally a goal threat themselves and again Schmeichel had to push away Ryan Hall's effort before Jordan Bowery fired just wide of the far post.

The goal eventually came for the Millers on the hour when the ball fell for Agard on the edge of the box and he beat Schmeichel with a low drive into the bottom corner, but Danny Drinkwater added City's third four minutes later with a neat finish at the far post

Ulloa was denied his hat-trick by a good Collin save before there was bad news for City as Knockaert had to be helped off the pitch with an injury.

The Frenchman's departure was the one big set-back on what was otherwise a positive night for City as they prepare to face Everton in 11 days time.

Nigel Pearson has been delighted with the progress of Leicester City's promising under-21s, but said he would be cautious of throwing them into the deep end of the Premier League.

Defenders Kieran Kennedy and James Pearson, son of the City boss, started Monday night's 2-0 win at MK Dons, with Pearson scoring a wonderful second goal at Stadium:MK.

Alie Sesay, Jack Barmby and Jak McCourt also made appearances as they prepare for their campaign in the elite division of the Barclays Premier Under-21 League.

Manager Pearson said there was a lot of talent coming through, but warned caution was needed if they were to flourish and admitted the step up could be too big too soon.

"It was a very good goal, he gets it from his dad," said Pearson of the full-back's goal.

"He probably copes with it (being the manager's son) slightly better than I do. He deals with it very well.

"I judge him probably a bit harder than other players. That is a natural thing.

"I am pleased for him because he has worked hard and he did well at the weekend at Scunthorpe and played an hour there. So for him to get another 70 minutes was very good.

"I am more interested in his overall performance, like I would be with any of the players.

"But it is probably too big a step. He has done very well.

"What we have done this pre-season is top up the first-team squad with the under-21s who have either done very well or helped us in terms of numbers. It is never easy.

"I thought Kieran at centre-back came in and stuck at it. He has had a difficult 12 months settling in with us. It is a massive ask.

"What we will do with our under-21s will be to decide whether players are going to be utilised like Tom Hopper.

"He has made the step up into the first-team squad but possibly hasn't made the appearances he would like.

"But it is about bringing these players on at the right step. Certainly, now that we have moved on into the next tier, you have to be careful that the challenge is right for those players. That applies to all of them.

"I am really pleased what the under-21s achieved last season and again we have got a few players where maybe a loan experience will be the next step for them."

Cosby's Grace Garner struck gold on day two of the National junior track championships in Manchester.

The RST RT racer, who recently helped Great Britain to team pursuit gold at the European junior track championships in Portugal, won the points race at the National Cycling Centre as she edged out Emily Nelson - a team-mate in Portugal - by just a point.

Garner finished the race with 11 points to her name, Welsh rising star Nelson claiming 10.

The Countesthorpe College student had begun the championships well. Despite still being a first-year junior Garner claimed silver in the 500m time-trial, five-thousandths of a second behind Ellie Coster.

Mystery surrounds a helicopter which was spotted swooping low over the city centre and Leicester prison before flying off across Leicestershire.

Mercury readers have been inquiring after they saw the chopper circling parts of the county at around 8pm on last night.

Residents in the Welford Road and Clarendon Park areas of Leicester, as well as Oadby all spotted the helicopter.

Mercury reporter Lee Marlow, of Whitwick who was driving near Leicester Royal Infirmary when he saw the helicopter.

"It swooped low over Welford Road, hovered over the prison and then appeared to disappear," he said.

"I thought it was landing on Nelson Mandela Park - but it didn't.

"It rose again, flew low over the Newark and came back over the prison.

"It wasn't the air ambulance, it was big military styled helicopter - part of its tail looked like it was missing. Everyone stopped to look."

Maxine Phipps, of Oadby said: "Myself and my partner saw the helicopter yesterday, it flew right over our flat on London road.

"It gave us quite a fright as it was very loud and with flying so low we thought it might be trying to land or about to crash."

Another resident from Oadby said: "I was playing football with my lad in the garden when I spotted it - by the time I'd turned to look it had backed away.

"But it was really loud, it must've been really low."

Other concerned residents took to Twitter to try and find answers.

Simon Whelband tweeted on last night: "Low flying military helicopter flying over Clarendon Park. Anyone got any ideas?"

One user, who calls himself DSG said: "Did anyone see that big helicopter flying really low over Leicester?"

Ryan Thomas said: "Huge dark blue helicopter flying very low over Leicester city centre, circling Welford Road and Leicester Royal Infirmary. Scared the hell out of me."

A spokeswoman from Leicestershire Police have said the helicopter was nothing to do with them.

The Mercury has e-mailed images of the helicopter to the Army press office.

A spokeswoman said she would try to help identify the aircraft, but haven not yet given any details.

Did you see the helicopter on last night? Tweet @Leicester_merc or reporter Yasmin Duffin: @yasminduffin

Firefighters have tackled a blaze at a property near Uppingham Road, Leicester.

Crews were called to a house in Withcote Avenue just after 9.15am this morning.

The garage attached to the house was on fire.

Crews tackled the blaze for more than two hours. They left at around 11.45am when the fire had been put out.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

X Factor winner Sam Bailey fears she may give birth to her baby in a supermarket.

The 37-year-old, who is 32 weeks pregnant with her third child - a girl, said she could go into labour at any minute.

Sam, who has a son and a daughter, said: "The doctors told me it could come at any time and that was a week ago.

"It could be that I'm out shopping in Asda and before I get to the freezer aisle my waters break.

"My waters broke on stage with my other daughter Brooke and I don't want a repeat of that sort of carry on."

Sam spoke as she collected a Honoured Citizen Award from the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor John Thomas at the town hall today. 

Sam is from Leicester Forest East, just outside the city boundaries, but was nominated by Coun Naylor and his colleagues, Barbara Potter and Paul Newcombe.

They said she had raised the profile of Leicester "in a positive and inspirational way and built aspirations of young people to follow in her musical footsteps".

Coun Naylor said: "Sam did her musical apprenticeship around Leicester's pubs and working men's clubs.

"She has inspired, encouraged and performed outstandingly for 13 years."

Sam, who was accompanied by her husband Craig, said she felt humbled to receive the award.

She said: "Winning the X Factor was one thing but to be honoured like this is amazing.

"I have been told that I can now drive my sheep through the middle of the city but somehow I don't think that is sight.

"Seriously though, it is a real honour to get such and award. it is nice to think that people think I may have inspired others by my journey on X Factor and beyond."

Sam she has performed her last two concerts with an ambulance on stand-by because her baby girl could come at any time.

She said that her X Factor mentor Sharon Osbourne is to be the child's godmother and runner-up Nicholas McDonald is to be godfather.

Sam sad: "I am keeping the baby's name a secret but it is not going to be Sharon or Nicole or Beyonce.

"We have chosen a name to match our children's names.

"We have got Brooke and Tommy so we can't have anything too odd.

"I don't want it to sound silly when I am shouting them down for their tea."

Soul singer Bizzi Dixon, who was a semi-finalist in hit BBC1 show The Voice, is also due to receive an Honoured Citizen Award on August 12.

Police are searching for a driver who left the scene of an accident after the car he was driving ended up on its roof today.

The man made off after the car collided with a stationary vehicle and flipped upside down in Burfield Street, Belgrave, Leicester, at about 2.40pm.

Ellie Wale said she was in a car at the other end of the street when the accident happened.

The 16-year-old, from Northfields, said: "I was with my mum, my sister and my auntie and we were going to get our nails done in Catherine Street.

"We had just parked up when we heard a loud bang.

"We got out and ran down the street to see if we could help." The crashed vehicle blocked the carriageway but the road was cleared by 4.30pm.

No-one is believed to have been hurt in the incident.

A police spokeswoman said: "We would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to call us on 101."

You also state that it is now acknowledged that parading the naked body of the fallen king into the streets of Leicester was "shameful." ( and possibly done when Henry Tudor realised the King had scoliosis and bending his body over a horse made this more apparent to the populace - evil body - evil mind).

"We can't undo history but we can learn from it.." you state. Really? All evidence to the contrary.

So why then the constant perpetuation of that image throughout everything done within the recent plans around Richard's re-interment . The image occurs three times ( to date) Once in the "Towards Stillness" installation. (I notice this was roped off yesterday - frankly I am not surprised as I wouldn't want any children of mine careering into sheets of metal) Then there is the planned window in the Cathedral, and it is also depicted in the visitor centre. Would once not have been adequate?

I can think if several historical figures who were killed in battle/executed and whose mutilated remains were displayed at the time, but who are not depicted in this way now, irrespective of what you think of them. Displaying images of Richards corpse is singularly unusual as figures like Simon de Montfort or Wat Tyler are not depicted dead or dismembered.... And they WERE technically traitors who revolted against the English Crown.

I also note that you "guarantee" dignity. Well - you must have a different definition of that to most people I know. And in all truth - how can you "guarantee" that?

My colleagues and I have been writing to several institutions, including academics, and some of the responses have been medieval to say the least. And I quote:

…I would be one of the rowdy crowd and would join in if I had the chance…"

"I too accept the Shakespearean view of Richard III as a monster and am glad to learn from you (?) that there are plans to curse the traitor on his final journey.."

If this is the view of our academia - it is seriously depressing.

I am afraid I do not see the relevance of your final paragraph to either my first letter or the issue in general. I - for one - have accepted that Richard will now be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral - I have been to see the site where he will lie. There are things I don't like. The tomb design issue will remain as divisive as Richard himself can be - even a local poll in the Leicester Mercury showed that most Leicester residents didn't like it either.

When I die - I hope that my remains will be given the respect and dignity they deserve. I also sincerely hope, that if I happen to die an unfortunate death in a different part of the country from where I live and where I spent most of my time - no -one will have plans to take me back to "visit" the place of my demise. Why would they? 

On a further note around dignity - I have also heard a rumour that (once Richard has paid a post-mortem visit back to Bosworth)there will be two re-interment services. One will be public - another private. 

I have heard that you can buy yourself a ticket for the private ceremony for £2,500. Since when did anyone pay to attend a funeral?

I am hoping this is just a vile rumour - but then I initially hoped that about the parading of remains back to Bosworth…and I had to eat my words.

If this is true.... is it fundraising? Or commercialism? Or dark tourism?

I await the confirmation of this particular rumour with interest."