Adams concerned by Dickov's mood

Micky Adams has urged Leicester striker Paul Dickov to try and put the La Manga affair "to the back of his mind" and play a leading role in the Foxes' fight to stay in the Barclaycard Premiership.

Dickov is on bail after being charged with sexual aggression - along with Frank Sinclair and Keith Gillespie - after allegations by three German women during the club's training camp in Spain.

Adams has sympathy with Dickov's plight but wants him to try to focus fully on Leicester's battle for survival after he looked below his best in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Everton.

The Leicester manager said: "We can all see from Paul's demeanour that he is not quite at his sharpest.

"I don't know whether that is a mental thing or a physical thing but all we can do is hope that the scenario in La Manga gets itself sorted out sooner rather than later.

"That cloud will still be over the top of him for some time yet but he has got to try to put that to the back of his mind and get on with the football.

"Sometimes that is easier said than done, though. When players carry problems onto the pitch it does affect them. But I will keep chirping away at him.

"The 90 minutes that Paul got under his belt against Everton on Saturday will have done him the world of good.

"The players have had the day off on Monday but Paul showed what a good professional he is by coming in and doing some work.

"That is all he can ever do. Hopefully it will pay dividends for him against Liverpool at the weekend."

Meanwhile Adams has sympathy with midfielder Lee Morris who is still suffering with the thigh strain he was carrying when signing from Derby during the transfer window.

Adams said: "Lee is still suffering with a thigh strain. It is unfortunate for him. He came to the club with a slight thigh strain and that has proved to be difficult.

"It has transferred itself up one leg and down the other and it is a problem. But we have to remind everyone that we signed him for the long term and not the short term."