Danny Drinkwater's suspension comes as a blow to Leicester City, but Claudio Ranieri remains optimistic about the situation.
Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri is optimistic his fringe players will rise to the challenge of replacing Danny Drinkwater while the midfielder serves his three-match suspension.
It was confirmed on Thursday that Drinkwater had accepted a Football Association charge for elbowing Watford's Valon Behrami in Saturday's meeting at Vicarage Road, thus sidelining the England international.
Drinkwater has only missed three league games since the start of last season and will leave a significant hole in the midfield as Leicester prepare to host Middlesbrough, but Ranieri is hopeful his absence will not have a major impact.