With three games to go, Leicester City are still firmly in the play-off picture. Currently in fifth place, Nigel Pearson’s men could seal a top six finish if results go their way on Saturday, but City’s pragmatic boss remains firmly focused on the task in hand.

Speaking ahead of a training session that featured Leicester boxing sensation Rendall Munroe, Pearson was in relaxed but determined mood and admitted that the team had to grind out last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Peterborough at London Road.

“It was a good result and the performance is not as important as the result at this stage of the season. I was just pleased to get the win and it puts us into a decent position going into the last three games.”

Nigel has been pleased with the impact of his loan signings this season, with Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing particularly impressing in recent weeks and the manager concedes that the loan market is the club’s most realistic way of adding top class talent.

“The loan signings this year have played their part and I think it’s important for us because we can’t compete in terms of going out and buying players. The loan system is becoming increasingly more important for a lot sides and we have to make sure we do our homework and get them right.

“I think for the most part, the players have come in and been positive signings for us. Everybody’s got their part to play throughout the season. There are three games left and it’s tight up there, but we’ve worked hard to get ourselves into this position.”

Another recent loan addition, Everton striker James Vaughan, has recently extended his deal until the end of the season and Pearson expects him to have an impact during the run-in.

“He gives us a different dimension and we’ve got some good competition for places in the forward positions. I think he brings us something different which is great and hopefully when he gets his chance he’ll be ready for it, it’s as simple as that.”

After a long, hard season and with so many crucial games ahead and the possibility of an extended play-off campaign, Pearson emphasised the importance of getting the level training right, but insisted that the pace and tempo hasn’t changed much.

“It’s pretty similar in the sense that we’ve got to do what we need to do and that is get the balance right between doing the work in preparation for games, but also keeping the players fit and ready for the games. We certainly don’t want to be over-training but we need to make sure we do the work we need to. We re-evaluate it throughout the season. It’s an important part of the year but the players really look forward to the games.”

Next up for The Foxes is Saturday’s home fixture with Watford, a team struggling at the wrong end of the table, and Nigel is expected a tough test.

“It’s dangerous to assume that you’re going to win just the home games because we’re playing against Watford who are fighting for lives and it will be a tough game. We’ve got ourselves back into a pretty strong position and I keep saying we’ve been in and around the play-offs for most of the season now so it’s about seeing the job through.”

For ticket information for this Saturday’s crucial clash with Watford visit the ticketing section of the club’s official website.