Football
ESPN staff 9y

Leicester earn Aston Villa win, wait on 'difficult' Andrej Kramaric work permit

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson has confirmed that the club are waiting over obtaining a "difficult" work permit for Andrej Kramaric, but was buoyed by his side's 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Foxes announced on Thursday that they have a deal in place with Croatian club NK Rijeka to sign the 23-year-old forward subject to a work permit.

The Foxes are still bottom despite Paul Konchesky's winner against Villa, but are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions and are just five points from 12th place in a congested table.

And Pearson feels his side have the belief to stay up regardless of whether they can complete a deal for the Croatia international.

"We've got to get over the line with that deal -- it's not prudent to talk too much about that. It's difficult to obtain a work permit," Pearson said.

"He's a young man who we've followed for a long time, he's not a rabbit out of a hat -- and he will add to what we already have here.

"That's what we're about -- adding to the squad -- we're not about replacing what we have.

"The dressing room always had belief in itself -- what's important is, when results are not going your way, you stay in contact and that's what we've been about until we can make changes.

"We're in the January window now and whether we can add to the squad significantly remains be seen but the point is I never doubted our ability.

"It's nice to be talking on the back of decent results."

The only blot for the Foxes from Saturday's victory was Matty James' red card after his foul on Ciaran Clark and, after the pair squared up to each other, they had to be separated as they went down the tunnel.

"I'm not prepared to make any comments on it. I will wait to see the report," Pearson added.

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