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Rodgers: Leicester owner has my back

By TOM COLLOMOSSE

BRENDAN RODGERS insists Leicester owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has never wavered in his backing for the manager despite the club’s difficult season.

Leicester made a dreadful start by taking just one point from their first seven Premier League matches, and though they improved before the World Cup they have yet to win since the top flight returned.

Their poor run of form has left them only a point above the relegation zone ahead of today’s clash at Aston Villa but according to Rodgers ( right), Srivaddhanaprabha — known as Khun Top — is fully behind him.

‘At the start of the season and throughout it’s been a huge challenge but

I’ve never felt anything other than support,’ said Rodgers. ‘I’m lucky Top knows football. He knows the situation, the injuries, everything that has been thrown at us.

‘I’m privileged to have felt that trust from the day I came in here from him and the other members of the board. Most of the time hopefully I have delivered here and I aim to continue doing that.

‘ It’s the same when we are winning as when we are losing. We speak about the club, the team, social life, other things. He knows and I know I have his support and I don’t need the reassurance. I have been in the game long enough. ‘You have got to win games and show there’s progress. He totally understands the issues we have had around recruitment and injuries but hopefully in the second part of the season we can show more of our true selves and he can be rewarded.’ Rodgers could give Premier League debuts today to two of Leicester’s three January signings, winger Tete and left back Victor Kristiansen. Centre back Harry Souttar, the other new arrival, is a doubt with a hip injury. Meanwhile, Villa boss Unai Emery is convinced Bertrand Traore can still be a hit for the club. The winger was recalled from his loan at Istanbul Basaksehir last month and will link up with the Villa squad next week. Traore, 27, joined Villa from Lyon for £17million and has made just 30 league starts in almost two-and-ahalf years at the club. However, Emery is confident he still has a big future at Villa Park.

‘I am sure about his quality and how much he can help us until the end of the season,’ said Emery.

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