Pundit explains why James key to unlikely Leicester survival

Any glimmer of hope in recent weeks that Leicester City will climb out of the relegation spaces has quickly been followed up by that promise being swiftly killed.

Indeed, a 2-0 victory over Bristol City clinched towards the start of March was then followed up by Saturday's miserable 3-1 loss at the hands of Queens Park Rangers.

Moreover, spirited draws against some of the promotion pack in Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough were also sandwiched around Gary Rowett's men coming unstuck 2-0 to Norwich City, with the Foxes a real Jekyll and Hyde prospect currently.

Looking at some crunch games to come, Leicester have to pick up more consistent results, with trips to Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth arguable must-wins, with the Owls already relegated, and Pompey languishing near the foot of the division, alongside the sorry Foxes.

Only two points adrift, Leicester stand a fair chance of clinching survival if everything clicks into place, with Jordan James surely a crucial individual if they are to remain as a Championship club.

Collecting ten goals and four assists this season as a constant breath of fresh air, James will be raring to put in even more impassioned displays between now and the season finishing in May.

In the eyes of EFL pundit George Elek, he is vital to their survival chances, with the initial move to bring him to the King Power an outstanding coup.

What Elek had to say about James

James would arrive at Leicester during a confusing summer, as the grim reality of relegation from the Premier League seeped in.

Signed on loan from Rennes with an option to permanently sign, the 21-year-old's addition to the group is hands down the best bit of business signed off on.

The NotThe Top 20 podcast host agrees, by stating: "He is so good. I’m so intrigued to know what is going to happen to Jordan James next season. He came through at Birmingham , looked brilliant, got his move to Rennes.

The loan to Leicester always felt a bit weird because this was a Leicester team who didn’t really have a recruitment team, they weren’t really doing anything in the summer. Bringing him in looked great business. He’s now scored 10 goals in the league from 3.5 expected.”

It is an intriguing thought to work out what is going to happen with the blistering Welshman when the season concludes, with relegation surely meaning he would look for another opportunity elsewhere.

Until then, he will hope he can continue being a leader-like presence for the crisis-ridden Foxes, with Elek even stating that he has the potential to be an "elite" performer in time.

Currently, it just feels like a match made in heaven, with James desperate to prove himself in the English game again, after his move to Rennes from Birmingham City hasn't worked out.

In much the same way, Leicester have been written off at stages this season as being a side destined for the drop due to a whole magnitude of issues.

With James leading from the front, though, Rowett and Co. simply can't be written off.