Leicester City comment by Nev Foulger: Fine display shows strength in depth

Milan Mandaric's money and Nigel Pearson's expertise in the loan market may not be required after all.

What had all the appearances of a doomsday scenario on Tuesday night, had become a bright new dawn by the end of Saturday's game against Scunthorpe.

How are Leicester City going to cope without 12-goal Matty Fryatt was the question everyone was asking before the match. A hat-trick from Paul Gallagher, plus high-octane performances from Martyn Waghorn, Lloyd Dyer and substitute Yann Kermorgant, provided the answer in a stunning 5-1 victory.

It was just what City manager Pearson was hoping to see – players prepared to step up to the plate in the absence of the injured Fryatt.

Of course, Fryatt will be missed. But City have now proved they have players capable of filling the breach while Fryatt recovers from a double fracture of his jaw. And, if he had been able, you can be sure Fryatt would be smiling and cheering this result. He probably was inside.

What the biggest home win for a decade does is give Pearson added time to reflect before deciding on the best course of action to keep City in promotion play-off contention.

It will certainly have silenced some of the clamour for an immediate loan replacement for Fryatt.

Lee Hoos, City's chief executive, made an excellent observation in an interview in this newspaper on Friday. He pointed out that loan signings still cost a considerable amount of funding, and that it makes no sense to have them unless you are going to be able to utilise them.

When you look at the current financial problems of clubs like Portsmouth, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Chester and Notts County, it is a sensible and realistic approach.

It makes financial sense to bring in a loanee only if he is better than players already at the club and is going to go straight into the side.

It is no easy task finding someone of that ilk, particularly if you are looking for a striker.

Anyone capable of scoring a dozen goals in the remaining 17 games, is unlikely to be made available by his current club at this stage of the season.

Although the goals-for column may not suggest it, City already have some talented attackers on their books.

Gallagher, highly rated by Pearson, certainly came to the party on Saturday with the first hat-trick of his career.

He was given a standing ovation when he was substituted a few minutes from the end of the match, and thoroughly deserved it.

Waghorn has been a fans' favourite since joining City on a season-long loan from Sunderland. His energy, enthusiasm and commitment were there in abundance again as he tore into the Scunthorpe defence, clearly revelling in the chance to play down the middle in the absence of Fryatt.

A superbly-struck goal in the 34th minute capped another fine performance from the youngster.

Dyer's pace was another potent attacking weapon for City and, when he went on in the 61st minute, Kermorgant provided control, aggression and a real aerial threat.

We have seen the potential of Dany N'Guessan on many occasions this season, and there is also Steve Howard waiting in the wings. With Fryatt out for two months, the window of opportunity has opened for all of them.