With the frustration of Tuesday’s 0-0 with Doncaster and the anguish of seeing star striker Matty Fryatt stretchered off the pitch, it’s not been an easy week for City boss Nigel Pearson.

Fryatt is likely to be out for two months after Brian Stock’s heavy challenge left him with a broken jaw in two places. The 23-year-old, who has notched 11 league goals this season, is now out of hospital and his family picked him up from the training ground earlier today. Pearson revealed the extent of Matty’s injury and conceded that losing his top scorer is a major blow.

“It is a disappointment. He’s had surgery and got a double fracture. That’s all taken care of now and the next four weeks will be crucial in terms of his recovery, as he won’t really be able to do anything. It’ll be eight weeks in total that he’ll be out.”

Not one to dwell on the negatives, The Foxes manager is hoping to see other players break into the team and make an impression, particularly with a run of five games in fifteen days in February.

“It will give other players the opportunity. Matty’s done very well in the last two seasons, but we’re going to have to deal with it and it’s as simple as that. We’ve got a squad with good quality and I think there’s a possibility for a number of players to play their part this month. On the face of it it’s a very tough month and our form’s been in and out, but it’s an opportunity for players to stake their claim in the side.”

Tuesday’s game saw Doncaster set out their stall to play a containing game and settle for a point in an approach which clearly frustrated the manager, players and fans alike.

After a tough away game at Blackpool last Saturday and playing against Newcastle with ten men for an hour the week before, tiredness could have affected City’s performance. Nigel was keen to play this down as well as the anticipation of some supporters and members of the media.

“I wouldn’t put tiredness down as a major factor. I think the players’ fitness levels are good and if it was a factor, it’s not something that I’m going to make an excuse about. We know that we’re better than that and it was a frustrating game.

“I don’t think it was quite as bad as some people make out. I think that occasionally people’s frustrations and expectation levels get a little bit carried away. Over the course of the season we’ll try to keep ourselves as level-headed as possible. I don’t buy into this panic mentality that some people seem to have.”

Like Doncaster, this Saturday’s opponents Scunthorpe, are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and Pearson is expecting another tough game.

“When we’ve played them in the past they have always been a difficult side to beat, like the game here last season, which ended 2-2. That was different in circumstances but again it won’t be an easy game. We’ve got to be better than we were the other night. It’s as simple as that.”

Tickets are still available for this Saturday’s contest with Scunthorpe, which is a special Leicester Mercury fixture. Visit the tickets section of City’s website for more information.

Nigel Pearson was talking to Jon Reeves.