Claudio Ranieri says Leicester are 'ready to fight' in tricky February fixtures

Claudio Ranieri says his Leicester players are "ready to fight" as they prepared for a run of difficult fixtures with a 3-0 victory over Stoke.

The win took the Foxes back to the top of the Premier League with games against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City to come in February.

As a result, Ranieri believes it was crucial Leicester got the win that ensures they will at least be level on points with the league leaders at the end of the month.

"It was very important to be top of the league at the end of January because now February is a month that is very, very tough," he said.

"Liverpool, Arsenal, City - it is unbelievable. But we are ready to fight. Now the players will have three days off, to clear the minds. And when they come back we restart to work hard because the league, for us, is very exciting."

The game also saw Jamie Vardy score his first goal since December 14, a run of eight games without finding the net, but Ranieri insisted he was never concerned.

"It was not a problem," added the Italian. "I tell Jamie every day it is not important, although I know goals for the strikers is important and maybe now he has more confidence.

"When I speak with him I say it is important you continue to work hard because you are the main man and if you start to press then everyone follows. Then sooner or later you score a goal, I told him this. You have to work and make it happen and then the goal will arrive."

Danny Drinkwater and Leonardo Ulloa were also on target in what the former Chelsea and Monaco boss described as a 'fantastic performance' from his side.

"You know how much I love the clean sheet but it was also very important to score the three goals because Stoke City is a very good team - solid, strong and taller than us," Ranieri said.

"The first half was very difficult but fortunately we found the goals. We made a fantastic performance and I am very pleased with my players."