Steve McClaren has insisted that Leicester City will be a threat to his Newcastle United side if Jamie Vardy is ruled out of the match at St James' Park this weekend.

The England international, who is the top scorer in the Premier League so far this season, can match Ruud van Nistelrooy's record if he scores in a 10th straight match this weekend, although he has been struggling with a hip injury in the build-up.

The Newcastle manager said at his pre-match press conference: "They don't just have Vardy, they have Albrighton and Drinkwater. They have some very good players.

"Albrighton is playing very well and they are a very good team. That's why they are one point off the top. They are not mugs but it's about us and what we do. We are trying to turn the corner and we are doing is slowly."

Vardy has scored 12 goals so far this season.