Solano salutes City's battling spirit

Nolberto Solano has said he was expecting his first taste of Championship football to be a ferocious affair – and he was not left disappointed.

Solano made his Leicester City debut against his former club Newcastle United last Saturday and the midfielder said his 10 minutes on the pitch after replacing Matty Fryatt as a late substitute lived up to his expectations.

City battled courageously for an hour with 10 men after Richie Wellens' first half sending-off, and Solano is expecting more of the same for the rest of the season.

"Everyone is fighting in this league and while you may not see as much quality as in the Premier League, teams are always competitive," he said. "If you look at the table, everyone is fighting for something. Everyone can beat everyone else."

Solano, 35, said he had seen enough, in training and against Newcastle, to convince him that City can force their way back into the play-off places.

City are eighth, two points off the last play-off place but with a game in hand, and Solano believes if City can maintain the level of performance they showed against the Magpies they can be contenders.

However, he warned that turning the Walkers Stadium into a fortress would be the key.

He said: "It will be very difficult. We have to win as many games as we can, especially at home.

"This is a wonderful club and it deserves to be in the Premier League. I want to do my bit to help get us there."