Ruud van Nistelrooy explained his reasons for turning to Leicester City legend Andy King as the Foxes battle relegation from the Premier League.

King was a long-serving midfielder for Leicester, coming through the club's academy and playing a key role in their rise up the divisions before sensationally winning the title in 2015-16.

Leicester announced the popular former player's return to the first-team set-up on Thursday, with King now taking up a role on head coach Van Nistelrooy's staff.

He had been working with the academy, but Van Nistelrooy believes his experience can be key for Leicester ahead of the run-in, with Brentford up next at home on Friday.

"Andy is one of the people in the club with Leicester City in the DNA that I wanted to speak with and get to know,” said Van Nistelrooy. 

“Over the course of the past few weeks, I asked him to be more part of the first-team setting and coaching staff. He really liked it, we all did, the players did and he is a full part of that set-up now. 

“He is helping us now with all his knowledge and experience of this football club."

Leicester may have their work cut out against Brentford, who have found form away from home, helped by the goals of Kevin Schade.

Schade, who scored Brentford's winner at West Ham last time out, has seven Premier League goals for the season and hit a hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

"We are seeing more and more good things from him," said boss Thomas Frank. "He is growing into the role. He is playing and importantly training consistently for many months."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leicester – Jamie Vardy

Leicester are still reliant on King's former team-mate Vardy, who is their top scorer with eight goals this season, including seven in the Premier League.

He has never scored against Brentford in the league, but the Foxes may need him to end that barren run in this game.

Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo has been involved in 12 goals in his last nine Premier League games against promoted sides (seven goals, five assists).

In his four such games so far this season, he has netted three braces, albeit he was not on target in the reverse fixture.

MATCH PREDICTION: BRENTFORD WIN

Leicester have lost each of their last five Premier League home games – they have never lost six in a row on home soil in their league history.

Their last five league defeats at home have come by an aggregate score of 11-0.  The only team to lose six consecutive top-flight home games without scoring are Norwich City (June 2020 to August 2021), with no side doing so in a single campaign before.

Having failed to win any of their first nine Premier League away games this season (D2 L7), meanwhile, Brentford have now won each of their last three. 

The Bees last won four consecutive league games on the road in September 2011 in League One and have never done so in the top flight.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Leicester – 28.2%

Draw – 24.3%

Brentford – 47.5%