Leicester City's preseason has gone remarkably well, all things considered. For months, supporters had braced for the worst, haunted by memories of woeful stewardship by The King Power International Group, and the patchy managerial record of Russell Martin from his previous posts elsewhere like Southampton in the Premier League and Rangers most recently.
Yet as preparations wind down, the structure of training, the carefully arranged fixture list and the balance of incoming and outgoing transfers have come together in a fashion that feels almost ideal. Wow; this was totally unexpected, to be frank.
If the club can add Tommy Watson to the ranks alongside a proven, high-quality central striker, few would bet against the Foxes marching straight to the League One title. Alex McCarthy and Conor Chaplin represent two solid, sensible additions to the squad on Filbert Way: offering immediate quality and depth where it matters most.
Chaplin is certainly a dynamic talent that the Blue Army should keep a close eye on as the campaign unfolds. He is capable of unlocking tight defences and chipping in with many vital goals as a previous English Football League Golden Boot recipient.
McCarthy's arrival, meanwhile, looks set to challenge Jakub Stolarczyk for the No.1 jersey; a familiar turn of events given how Asmir Begovic previously filled that very same gap between the posts. But questions were raised when both McCarthy and Chaplin were absent from LCFC's open training session held at King Power Stadium on Friday, July 31.
The official lcfc.com website outlined the event as a special chance for fans to watch Russell Martin and his first team finalise preparations for the new season, with free entry for season ticket holders and Fox Members, whilst general admission was priced at £5. This was a rare and valuable opportunity for Foxes fans to see their heroes up close and personally.
Will Alves, Conor Chaplin and Alex McCarthy updates for Leicester City
Anyway, it has since been confirmed that both the experienced stopper and creative midfielder are suffering from nothing more serious than minor knocks. No major injury concerns exist to report.
Conor Chaplin and Alex McCarthy missed Leicester City’s open training session due to minor knocks.
— Josh Holland (@joshhollandLCFC) July 31, 2026
Nothing serious. #LCFC https://t.co/GMfmYsbvuk
New signings Christian McFarlane and Liam Cullen were both present and trained fully ahead of the final preseason friendly against Genoa. While, Will Alves spent the session working individually away from the main group; it remains unclear whether any of the absent trio will be fit enough to feature when the East Midlanders face their Italian visitors this weekend.
Add us as a preferred source on Google