Drinkwater determined to haul Leicester up the table

Danny Drinkwater remains determined to get Leicester City back into the top half of the Premier League table, starting with a strong display against Southampton on Sunday.

The England midfielder missed three fixtures for the Foxes in December but has been back in the team throughout January as he returns to full match fitness.

City travel to Southampton, who have not won any of their last four Premier League matches, on Sunday and Drinkwater insists the Foxes must take the game to their opponents.

“I’m getting there and more importantly I’m just trying to help the team get back to where they deserve to be,” he said.

“Game time is important for me and the fitter and stronger I get, the better.

“It’s going to be a tough game because we know the qualities that they’ve got in the team. It’s up to us to stop them by putting our stamp on the game.”

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

After losing N’Golo Kante to Chelsea in the summer, Leicester City’s midfield has been boosted by the signing of Wilfred Ndidi, from Genk, and Drinkwater is impressed with the Nigerian international.

“He’s an athletic lad. He’s tall and good on the ball so hopefully when he settles in he can spur us on,” he added.

“The new lads coming in need time to settle in and everyone understands that.

“They’re working hard, but if me and Kingy (Andy King) and the other lads can help them then we’re more than happy to do so.”