Youri Tielemans scored twice as Leicester City bounced back from their Europa League exit to earn an emphatic Premier League victory over Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium.
Making his first Premier League start since 7 November following a calf injury, Tielemans converted a 38th-minute penalty after Jamaal Lascelles was adjudged to have brought down James Maddison.
A quality attacking move, initiated by Maddison’s sublime pass for Harvey Barnes using the outside of his boot, resulted in a simple finish for Patson Daka as the Foxes moved out of sight in the second half.
After Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel did brilliantly to sprint back and prevent a Timothy Castagne own-goal, Tielemans was set up by Maddison for his second before the England midfielder got the goal his impressive performance deserved with five minutes remaining.
Brendan Rodgers’ side – eliminated from the Europa League group stage with a 3-2 defeat by Napoli on Thursday – move up to eighth in the table after only a second victory in seven league games.
Newcastle, meanwhile, remain in the relegation places and three points from safety.
While there is plenty of time for Rodgers to discover what the Europa Conference League is following their midweek European disappointment, the immediate concern was to address his side’s porous defence after a week in which the Leicester boss was once again left to rue defensive “naivety”.
A squad already depleted by illness was dealt an immediate blow in that regard, as centre-back Jonny Evans was forced off with a hamstring injury six minutes into his 100th Premier League appearance for the club – leaving Wilfred Ndidi to assume the role of makeshift centre-back.
Despite that setback the Foxes registered a first clean sheet in 17 matches in all competitions against a Newcastle side which managed just three shots on target, though Castagne was indebted to Schmeichel’s heroic goal-saving clearance.
