Leicester boss Claude Puel wary of West Ham backlash as Foxes step up their preparations: 'We know it will be a difficult game'

• e-mail

Claude Puel has urged his Leicester players to be focused ahead of Friday night's showdown at the London Stadium.

The Foxes make the trip to the capital for David Moyes' first home game in charge of the Hammers after he was appointed earlier this month.

Moyes lost his first game on Sunday 2-0 at Watford, and his new side are third bottom in the Premier League having won just once in their last eight top flight games.

Kasper Schmeichel strains as he gets to work at Leicester's Belvoir Drive Training Complex

Vincente Iborra laughs as he enjoys a light session ahead of Leicester's trip to the capital

Manager Claude Puel insists Leicester will not take struggling West Ham lightly and conceded he is wary of their opponents as he watches over Leicester's preparations

'West Ham fans want a reaction,' Puel said. 'We know this team are at home with a new manager and we want to show good qualities.

'When a new manager arrives, it is always positive for the players to show their qualities and to try and win their place.

'It will be a strong game and it is important to keep focus. It's a difficult game for them but also for us.

'We know it will be a difficult game. They have changed their manager like Everton did when we played them.

'It is a new challenge for us because we know the players of West Ham but they have had just one game played under the new manager at Watford.'

Riyad Mahrez strikes a focused ahead of Friday's trip to West Ham amid transfer stirs

Kelechi Ihenacho gets in the zone as he looks to increase his Premier League goal tally

Leicester will hope to climb into the top half of the Premier League with a win in London

The Frenchman will resist the temptation to make changes for Friday's game following the 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on Saturday.

While Puel has no new injury concerns ahead of the trip to London, he will yet again be without Robert Huth (ankle) and Matty James (Achilles).

'It will be important to make some rotation,' he said. 'But for the moment we have some days to recover (after Friday) and we will see for this game.

'If we have just two or three days (to recover), it will be important to make some rotation.

'We may gradually look at some different players. It will be a normal thing for me, sometimes we will have tiredness and some injuries.'  

Ihenacho warms up on a cold Wednesday morning at the Leicester training centre

Ben Chilwell juggles the ball as he hopes to make his first appearance in three games