Claudio Ranieri hopeful of Kasper Schmeichel return for Leicester City trip to Manchester United

Claudio Ranieri will not rush Kasper Schmeichel back into the Leicester City first-team for their League Cup encounter with Chelsea, but the goalkeeper could return for the weekend clash with Manchester United.

Schmeichel, 29, was ruled out of the 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday (17 September) after suffering a minor concussion in training. Summer signing Ron-Robert Zieler, a former Manchester United youth player, coming into replace him.

The German goalkeeper will have the chance to impress his manager again when Chelsea visit the King Power Stadium on Tuesday for the third-round clash with their Premier League rivals.

"Ron-Robert Zieler had a very good match [against Burnley on Saturday]. I will continue with him, I think Schmeichel is ready for the weekend," Ranieri told a press conference on Monday.

The former Chelsea manager is planning to make wholesale changes to his side and has urged the fringe members of his squad to take their chances to force their way back into the first-team.

"My door is always open and I am very excited tomorrow how they react again. I believe the big Chelsea will arrive. I am expecting a strong team," he said, the Leicester Mercury report.

"It's a fantastic opportunity because they are working so hard in the training session and have an opportunity to show to our fans how they are.

"Last season I split and there were players who played in the two cups. Maybe I could do the same but it's not right in everything. I could choose the first 11 tomorrow and then in the next round choose different players.

"My priority is always to try to win but at this moment we have to play so many matches, important matches and now at that moment is to grow up the team, and then I make some changes."

Danny Simpson, who missed Leicester's Champions League opener against Club Brugge, returned to the first team on Saturday and could retain his place on Tuesday. Summer signing Nampalys Mendy is still not ready however after picking up an injury in August.