Leicester City comment by Nev Foulger: Squad on track for return to big time

After fabulous February are we now set for marvellous March?

If we are, Leicester City fans would be well advised to check their holiday plans.

They would not want to miss the conclusion of a season that could restore City to the Premier League.

Last week, chairman Milan Mandaric stated that he believed the club were ready to return to top-flight football.

On Saturday, in front of a full house at the Walkers Stadium, the players proved they clearly feel the same way.

The 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest extended City's unbeaten run to eight games, seven of them in February. They have picked up 15 points with four wins and three draws during the month. Coming up is another seven-game spell in March. A repeat of February's form would really consolidate City's position in the top six.

Looking at the fixtures, there is no reason why they should not keep that unbeaten run going. They have home games against Cardiff, Coventry and Reading – all eminently winnable.

Away from home, they face Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace, who are both struggling, plus trips to Derby County and Cardiff. In City's current mood, none of those games are likely to have them shaking in their boots.

Confidence has never been higher, as was shown in the second half on Saturday when Forest were turned over with three goals in 13 minutes.

That makes it eight goals in the last two home matches, and fears that the season might implode following the injury to top-scorer Matty Fryatt have proved unfounded. The players have dug deep and found strength in adversity.

Saturday's victory was a triumph for substance over style.

At the City Ground in December, the Foxes seemed unable to cope with Forest's blistering pace. But, in the re-match at the Walkers, it was a different story.

All that pace and flashy football was negated by a City side who were organised, disciplined and mentally and physically stronger – so much so that Forest manager Billy Davies talked in terms of needing to change tactics and personnel for away games.

Nigel Pearson, on the other hand, appears to have both the system and the players to cope, home or away. The switch to 4-3-3 has given the side a new lease of life and goals are now starting to arrive from all areas of the pitch. Bruno Berner (defender) Andy King (midfielder) and Paul Gallagher ( striker) were the men on target against Forest.

Gallagher's sublime Beckham-like free-kick in the 79th minute brought the house down, and was just about worth the admission money on its own.

Even though Forest remain seven points ahead of City, Davies continues to play down his side's chances of a top-two finish and insists they are not yet ready for promotion to the Premier League. He may be right. Davies has a talented and exciting young team, but, at times, they still look naive.

So where does that leave City in the promotion stakes? Is Mandaric right to think they could survive in the Premier League?

I believe he is. The young players such as Jack Hobbs, Michael Morrison, Andy King, Lloyd Dyer, Martyn Waghorn, Paul Gallagher, Dany N'Guessan and, not forgetting, the injured Fryatt, are improving all the time, while Chris Weale is emerging as one of City's best goalkeeper's for some years.

With the addition of three or four quality players, City would have a squad capable of at least staying in the top flight if they get there. Just as important, they have a manager who knows what he is doing.