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| Gokhan Inler is expected to make his Leicester debut against Tottenham |
LEICESTER are hoping their new Alpine Rocky can help them scale the heights of the Premier League.
Switzerland World Cup skipper Gokhan Inler won't be getting brushed aside by too many as he finds his feet in the top flight. The Foxes' new £5m signing from Napoli has revealed he keeps fit by trying to throw punches at a former world boxing champion Patrizio Oliva.
And on the eve of his debut against Tottenham today, Inler says the disciplines of ringcraft are the perfect preparation for any midfield battles he might get involved in.
"I find boxing is good for the body, not just fitness-wise but it gives you a stronger mind," he said.
"The Premier League is physical for sure. I like that. Every player would do well to think like a boxer.
"It's a team game but that mentality of being one-on-one like in boxing can be taken onto the pitch to win each battle that you get in. Everyone can look at their opponent and say individually, 'I am stronger than you'."
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino believes Eric Dier has learned to be happy with being the wandering minstrel of the Tottenham team because at least it means he is in with a shout of being in the first team.
The England Under-21 international, who learned his football in Portugal after his parents moved there for work when he was seven, makes no bones about the fact his preferred position is in the heart of defence.
So much so, in fact, that last November he asked Gareth Southgate to excuse him from an England Under-21 call-up to play at right-back so that he could focus on honing his centre-back skills for the week at Tottenham's training ground.
That said, Pochettino has been just as free about where he has chosen to play Dier after he made his debut at the start of last season in that right-back slot, scoring in each of his first two games.
This summer, he has been experimenting with him in a holding midfield role - a position he is likely to fill at Leicester this afternoon with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld Pochettino's top-choice centre-backs.
"I made that decision from the start of pre-season," the Tottenham head coach explained. "We needed to give the option to Eric to play. He played well in midfield and was comfortable in that position.
"He played it before in the national team - in Portugal they play like a centre-back or holding midfielder - and I am very happy with his performance.
"His skill is he can play in different positions in the pitch. He started last season as a full-back and scored in the first two games. He can play at centre back.
"It's good for him because he is young and he improves a lot as when you play in different positions you add to your game, gain better tools to be a better player.
"And he is very happy. He scored and shouted a lot against Stoke last week. He is happy to play, like all players who are in the first eleven."
That said, Pochettino has been just as free about where he has chosen to play Dier after he made his debut at the start of last season in that right-back slot, scoring in each of his first two games.
This summer, he has been experimenting with him in a holding midfield role - a position he is likely to fill at Leicester this afternoon with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld Pochettino's top-choice centre-backs.
"I made that decision from the start of pre-season," the Tottenham head coach explained. "We needed to give the option to Eric to play. He played well in midfield and was comfortable in that position.
"He played it before in the national team - in Portugal they play like a centre-back or holding midfielder - and I am very happy with his performance.
"His skill is he can play in different positions in the pitch. He started last season as a full-back and scored in the first two games. He can play at centre back.
"It's good for him because he is young and he improves a lot as when you play in different positions you add to your game, gain better tools to be a better player.
"And he is very happy. He scored and shouted a lot against Stoke last week. He is happy to play, like all players who are in the first eleven."
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