Leicester's Kante out for two matches

London - Leicester City's Premier League title bid received a setback on Monday as manager Claudio Ranieri revealed that influential central midfielder N'Golo Kante will miss their next two matches.

The 24-year-old Frenchman, a driving force in Leicester's surge to the top of the table, sustained a hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-0 win over Norwich City.

He will miss Tuesday's home game with West Bromwich Albion and Saturday's trip to Watford, with Wales international Andy King in line to deputise.

"I think we'll lose him for the next two matches," Ranieri told a press conference. "I hope only two. He has a little pain with his hamstring, so I give to him some rest."

A £5.6 million close-season signing from French side Caen, Kante has appeared in all of Leicester's 27 league games to date, scoring once in November's 2-1 win over Watford.

Leicester are two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the mid-week matches, with Arsenal three points further back in third place.