Leicester v West Brom: Fitness boost for Craig Shakespeare

Defeats to Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are perhaps to be expected, but those results grow in significance when they are sandwiched with disappointingly drab draws away at Bournemouth and Huddersfield.

Despite that run, the feeling in the East Midlands is that Shakey will soon turn it around. It’s been a tough start after all.

Leicester also lost to Arsenal in a thrilling opening-day encounter and are dealing with losing Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea towards the end of the window.

One positive note for Shakespeare has been Jamie Vardy’s form and the good news for Leicester, but potentially bad news for Albion, is the fact he will be fully fit for the game.

The striker was left out of the England squad due to an ongoing hip problem but he has recovered during the international break.

“Jamie had injections right after the Bournemouth game and he has fully recovered now,” said Shakespeare.

“He was given a bit of time away because he wasn’t allowed to do anything but he has trained fully this week and looked sharp and I’m really pleased to report no ill effects.”

There was more positive injury news regarding midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, whose suspected hamstring injury sustained while playing for Nigeria turned out to be just cramp.

Defender Ben Chilwell (knee) was withdrawn from the England Under-21s squad as a precaution but he is also fit.

However, Robert Huth (ankle) and Matty James (Achilles) remain unavailable as Leicester look for only their second Premier League win of the campaign.

Right-back Danny Simpson will be playing in defence and he’s been praised by Shakespeare ahead of making his 100th appearance for the club.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Foxes from QPR in the summer of 2014, has been an ever present in the Premier League so far this season.

At a time when full-back play appears more concerned with attacking rather than defending, Shakespeare thinks Simpson is something of a throwback.

“I think for the past season-and-a-half he’s been a real consistent performer,” said the Foxes boss. “He enjoys defending and a lot of up-and-coming full-backs don’t enjoy the defending part these days, they enjoy the attacking aspects. But Danny enjoys defending.

“His positional sense and his covering is very, very good and he brings to us a real stability at right-back.

“If the opposition has a tricky winger Danny will give everything and one-on-one he is a very good defender.”