Tuesday 12 July 2011

Foxes see off Swedish opponents in curtain-raiser

Options: Eriksson chose 2nd XI in Uppsala
Tonight marked the first opportunity for Sven Goran Eriksson to show-off his new-look Leicester City side as the Foxes kicked-off their pre-season tour of Sweden against IK Sirius in Uppsala.

But Eriksson opted to field none of his six £9 million star signings, instead handing the eleven starting places to those players with something to apparently prove to the former England manager.

First half goals from Franck Moussa and an energised Martyn Waghorn put Leicester - wearing their alternative all-yellow kit - comfortably ahead at the break. Most impressive, however, was a resurgent Yann Kermorgant. The Frenchman's keen eye for the ball and aerial presence led to his reward on the hour as he put the Foxes 3-0 in front.

Steve Howard, too, put in a solid showing commanding City's three-man front line ahead of Waghorn and Lloyd Dyer whilst Matt Oakley skippered the side from defence.

But the man of the match award was handed-out by the hosts to young Jeffrey Schlupp, the German-born Leicester City academy graduate enjoying his time filling-in as a full-back.

This was not a friendly that showcased Leicester City's first team but it must have been rewarding for Eriksson and his coaching team to see all of those players featured complete a full ninety minutes against a fully-fit Sirius side in a break from their domestic season.

Indeed the home side began to threaten Chris Weale's goal in the latter stages and were rewarded with a goal with two minutes to play, but that will not worry Eriksson who has plenty of options to choose from in what seems to be a very competitive travelling squad.

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