Five Feature In Ranieri’s Fitness Update

- Danny Simpson, Jeffrey Schlupp and Yohan Benalouane are all available for the King Power Stadium clash 

- Ron-Robert Zieler is likely to play, according to Ranieri 

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri provided a fitness update on a number of the Club’s stars ahead of Tuesday evening’s EFL Cup clash with Chelsea. 

Ranieri confirmed that City will be without both Kasper Schmeichel (concussion) and Nampalys Mendy (ankle) for the third round tie. 

Meanwhile, Danny Simpson, Jeffrey Schlupp and Yohan Benalouane are all available for the fixture, as Ranieri welcomes his former team to King Power Stadium. 

Discussing a number of his players’ fitness, Ranieri said: “He (Danny Simpson) is good. Of course after the first match but he is good. He trained normally today. He could play. 

“He (Nampalys Mendy) will start training with us and he is getting better but he is not ready yet. When a player comes back to me I want to watch him minimum one week or 10 days before making a decision. 

“I am thinking about him (Yohan Benalouane), he is ready. He made one or two matches with the Under-23s and he is ready. 

“Now I have to choose the first 11 because we have played two matches and there is another two and then I want to see the best solution for us. Of course we want to win. We want to go as far as we can in the League Cup and we will try.” 

Goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler made his first start for the Club in the 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, and Ranieri revealed the German is likely to feature against Chelsea as Schmeichel continues his recovery from concussion. 

“It is just precaution and for Saturday he won't have a problem,” Ranieri said of Schmeichel. “He is good, much better but Zieler made a very good match so I will continue with him [on Tuesday]. I think he (Schmeichel) is ready for the weekend. 

“It was important also for him (Zieler). He is a great keeper. He played so many games in the Bundesliga. He is fine and okay.”