Leicester City

It is confirmed. Leicester's 12-month exile in the Championship is coming to an end and all without having to do anything, as Leeds fell on their sword at QPR.

Enzo Maresca's usual Friday pizza night with his family would have tasted extra sweet.

But how have they done it?

What has been the key behind their rapid return?

And what are your initial expectations for this version of the Foxes in the Premier League?

Let us know here - and come back on Monday morning to see what the fans said.

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When Leicester City dropped out of the Premier League last term, it brought an end to a decade of unparalleled success for the Foxes.

Just seven years earlier they had won an almost unfathomable Premier League title under Claudio Ranieri, and in 2021 they lifted the FA Cup for the first and only time in their history.

It all started with promotion as Championship title winners in 2013-14, and now the decade has been bookended with another promotion.

Jamie Vardy was there 10 years ago as an enormously gifted livewire, and now as a 37-year-old former England striker, he has helped fire them back to the top flight with 18 goals in all competitions.

Vardy and a number of last season's relegated side have had pivotal roles, with Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi playing alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - who has provided 14 assists to go with his 12 goals - while Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, Ricardo Pereira, James Justin and Hamza Choudhury have shone in defence.

But it took a fundamental shift in football philosophy to turn Leicester from the flailing Foxes that went down 12 months ago into today's promotion-clinching outfit.

Manager Maresca, a treble-winning assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City last season, has stuck steadfastly to an approach that places patient, deliberate and possession-based football above all else.

Last summer's additions of midfielder Harry Winks, who has 10 caps for England, ex-Arsenal and Juventus winger Stephy Mavididi, and on-loan Sporting Lisbon forward Abdul Fatawu provided fresh attacking impetus.

And the assured presence of Mads Hermansen, who was named goalkeeper in the Championship's team of the season, also cannot be understated.

Leicester City are just 90 minutes away from securing promotion straight back up to the Premier League and they know a win against Preston North End on Monday night would be enough to reinstate their top-flight status.

Indeed, should Leeds lose at Queen's Park Rangers on Friday night, a quickfire return to the Premier League will be confirmed.

Former Leicester City academy graduate Ian Baraclough believes the Foxes will need to rise above the outside pressure once again to reach their objective of promotion.

"All of the teams have shown it [struggling under pressure]. Ipswich and Leeds could have gone above Leicester, and they did, but then dropped back because they didn't get the results," he said on the When You're Smiling podcast.

"I think Leicester have shown, especially over the last two games, that they are set fair and their minds are on it [winning promotion and the title].

"I think they have got good experience in the team in the likes of Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard, Jamie Vardy, and Harry Winks although he's not an old one, have got really good experience and they are used to these occasions.

"I think Leicester will go and get the job done. They will go and make it a celebratory day and night at home to Blackburn. I think they will have too much for Preston and they will get the job done without relying on anybody else."

After climbing the football pyramid with Scunthorpe United during his playing career, Baraclough also explained how it feels to be so close to promotion.

"You just cannot wait for the next game.," he said. "In all honesty, you don't worry about anyone else.

"They will perhaps watch the Leeds game and let's hope my old team QPR can help Leicester get over the line. That way it will become two celebratory fixtures - away and at home - so the fans can savour it for the two games [that are left].

"However, the players will be expecting the results to go the way of Leeds and Ipswich. They will be fully focused on what they need to do, preparing throughout the weekend and looking forward to the game.

"At this stage of the season, training is at a minimum to be honest. It's about going through processes, looking at analysis and not doing so much on the legs.

"They will just be getting themselves ready to rock and roll on Monday [against Preston North End]."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Leicester boss Enzo Maresca is pleased that his side only need one more win, but is still expecting a "tough game" on Monday.

The Foxes face Preston North End in their penultimate game of the season and it is in their own hands to confirm promotion back to the Premier League with three more points.

They sit top of the table on 94 points, four points ahead of Leeds United and five ahead of third-place Ipswich Town.

"It's a good feeling, to be honest," Maresca said in his pre-match news conference.

"As we said many times, it is a very long season, so to be in the place that we are in now is a good feeling.

"Before Southampton, we didn't know how many points we needed, but now we know, we're just one win from promotion. It's a good feeling but now we need to win one more.

"It's just about the Preston game. We know it will be a tough game. They beat Leeds, beat Ipswich, beat Coventry. So it's a tough game, but we are going to try and prepare like we have all season."

By the time Leicester travel to Deepdale, they could already be guaranteed their top-flight spot if Leeds were to lose to QPR on Friday, but the Foxes boss will not be watching.

"Friday night I usually watch my son's session," he added. "Then, because it is the weekend, we have a pizza with the family, so we will do the same. Yes, I will be checking sometimes but it is good [that we need just one more win]."

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes their 5-0 victory against Southampton on Tuesday night was a "real statement win".

The success took the Foxes to the top of the Championship - two points clear of second-placed Leeds and five points clear of third-placed Ipswich. Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling Podcast Piper said: "Coming into this game a lot of fans were nervous - I certainly was.

"Southampton are a good team, fourth in the table, looking to get a little higher and they came here with some really good players and good manager.

"Naturally you felt nervous because it was a pressure game for Leicester City. It was a huge game for Leicester City. A must-win game for Leicester City.

"They're all the phrases that we were hearing but this team really turned up and that's what champions do."

Leicester only need to win one of their two remaining games but they could also be promoted as soon as Friday if Leeds lose at QPR.

Piper added: "I know we're not quite there yet, but after a performance like that - it was a massive step closer to going back to the Premier League.

"A wonderful performance from our football club."

Listen to the whole episode here

So Leicester did to West Bromwich Albion what both Plymouth and Millwall did to us in the previous two games.

Let the opposition have most of the ball and the most shots, see off 17 out of 18 of them, and then win the game.

But, at this stage of the season it’s results that count.

While the three points were more than we deserved from the game in all honesty, it was also more than I expected when Jamie Vardy hit the post with his penalty. Then he came back and did what he does best – got the winner.

It was also good to see Hamza Choudhury have such a good game, especially with the derision his selection received. Man of the Match with three goal line clearances and the hat-trick of right foot, left foot and header.

I'm not sure he deserved the kiss off Enzo at the end, but his eternal thanks - definitely.

I just hope Enzo proves he’s no Brendan, who was also the same towards Hamza after a victory over Liverpool - walking off the pitch arms round his shoulder, pointing at him.

He never played again that season and was loaned out. Somehow I don’t think Enzo will.

Chris Forryan can be found at Leicester Till I Die, external

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Former Leicester winger Matt Piper on the When You're Smiling podcast after Hamza Choudhury earned the man of the match award in the win over West Brom: "I think Hamza was a one-man wrecking ball for Leicester City. He cleared away so many chances off the line.

"The reason we won that that game wasn't because of the goals we scored but because of the three clearances off of the line. You know, he can give the ball away at times, he can have indifferent performances but you can never say that he doesn't have the passion, the fight and the will to do everything he can to make this football club successful."

Full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper discussed the Foxes' 2-1 Championship victory over West Bromwich Albion on the When You're Smiling podcast:

"It's a huge win. It seemed nobody wanted to take that step to win this title. Leeds, Ipswich and Leicester have all stumbled when it's come towards the business end of the season.

"This was a massive potential banana skin for Leicester - a West Brom side that have been really good on the road this season and are fighting to get into the top six. They presented a real stern test but there were some big characters in the side.

"Conor Coady was one of them but nobody more than Jamie Vardy. He misses a penalty, stays on the pitch, scores us the winner and that's why we call him the goat.

"The crowd knew how big this game was, the players did too.

"Credit to West Brom - they came aggressive and posed a threat, and you have to say our goal did lead a very charmed life. Hamza Choudhury was a one-man wrecking ball keeping it out. He cleared so many off the line."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca appreciates the threats West Bromwich Albion pose, ahead of Saturday's Championship match at King Power Stadium.

The Italian says the Foxes are prepared for an "intense" match against a Baggies side that are in fifth and looking likely to make the play-offs.

In the reverse fixture, Carlos Corberan's side equalised in the 89th minute before Harry Winks scored a 94th-minute winner.

"We know the manager is intense," Maresca said in Friday's news conference. "We know they are intense off the ball.

"They press incredibly hard and set up with two very strong lines of four or five."

With promotion rivals Ipswich not playing this weekend, Leicester can go top of the table with victory and Maresca is grateful to be playing in front of their own supporters.

"We are lucky we are at playing at home this weekend," he said. "We play with one extra player."

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Conor Coady has only made nine Championship appearances for Leicester City so far this season, making Enzo Maresca's starting line-up in just six games and featuring as a substitute in three games.

Former Leicester City striker Steve Howard told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast he is confused about Coady's continued exclusion from the side: "I was really surprised that after his good cup game, he didn't get selected for the Saturday game after that. Everybody took a step back and said they weren't sure about that [call from manager Enzo Maresca].

"Then he got introduced into the team and the team win. I have always been a massive fan of Conor Coady and what he brings to the team with his experience. I know he is not the club captain, but he is sure to be the captain on the pitch.

"He can get a hold of these young lads and say: 'Look, let's just calm the ship. Let's just go in, do a job, and do what we need to do.'

"With it being so tight at the top, Coady would come in and firm the ship up. [Wout] Faes does like to play the ball, run out, and play one-twos at the edge of his box. It is heart-in-the-mouth stuff, but it's one where you have to question if Leicester need a player like that at this moment in time?

"Or do they need a secure player, where you know what you are going to get, who is going to fight, battle and boss everybody about? I think that is what Conor Coady brings to the team."

However, Howard does not believe Maresca will change his defensive shape before the end of the season: "That is the way he wants to play. We have said all season that he will never change his system.

"When Leicester were 15 points clear at the top of the league, everyone was thinking this is the way we need to play.

"But, towards the end of the season, there has been a certain level of pressure on the defence that they cannot handle. It has shown little gaps which opposing teams are exploiting.

"It just needs to be eradicated, especially for the last four games."

The Foxes' final four games see them host West Bromwich Albion, Southampton and Blackburn Rovers with their only away game on the penultimate matchday against Preston North End at Deepdale.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

The Championship title and promotion race is incredible.

Leicester were 12 points away at one point and looked like they were going to set all kinds of records. Southampton started off slowly before going on an unbelievable run, dropped off again, and now they are back in with an unbelievable shout because of the performances and the results of the top three.

Ipswich have been relentless to get to where they are and Leeds are now just having a hiccup. From their point of view, what was hard for them at the beginning was all the uncertainty around players and their loan deals and clauses that were written in on relegation. They had a slow start but then they have been incredible since.

There are some amazing games coming up for all those in the title and promotion race and it will be wonderful to watch.

But at the moment it feels like no one wants to win it with the points that are being dropped and you have to say it is the pressure. The pressure is ultimately playing into the race.

If you were to ask me who is going to win the title and who is going to get promoted – I could not call it. You cannot call it because of the results the teams have had and the games they have coming up.

When Leeds were facing a struggling Blackburn at home you would think it was the perfect game for them - and then they lost. Leicester went to Millwall and you thought that would be a game where they could go and get three points and then they didn't.

With the drama still to come in matches they have to play against each other too, it is fascinating.

This year's battle for automatic promotion to the Premier League looks set to go right to the wire, with last season's relegated sides Leicester, Leeds and Southampton trying to bounce straight back. However, Kieran McKenna's Ipswich are currently top of a four-way fight.

BBC Sport has examined the run-in and Opta's predictions for the final league table.

At the turn of the year Enzo Maresca's Leicester looked certain to bounce straight back up to the Premier League, topping the Championship table with a 13-point gap over third-place Southampton.

But after the Saints' win over Preston on Tuesday, four teams are involved with just a handful of games to go.

According to Opta, the Foxes have a 62% chance of winning the title and 84% of sealing promotion. Ipswich have a 62% chance of securing back-to-back promotions, according to Opta.

Southampton are predicted to get 89 points, with two of their final four games away at Leicester and Leeds.

Read the full lowdown on the Championship promotion battle