Leicester City: Matt Heath says Russell Martin must show he can adapt

What Martin brings to Leicester this season – beyond the promotion success he enjoyed previously at Saints – is that League One knowhow with MK Dons.

Heath says delivering early results next season will be vital if Martin is to win over Foxes supporters who doubt him now.

And style will matter just as much as the substance of any result, with Heath adding that Martin can show he is “learning as a manager” by not being fixated on one way of playing.

“If he doesn’t, then he’s not adapting,” Heath continued.

“He’s not going to be any mug, is he? He’s going to have learned from his mistakes, and I would hope that he’d have Plan A, Plan B and Plan C.”

The style that Martin has so far stuck to will be familiar to Leicester, with the former Scotland international’s approach being a reflection on what the Foxes played under Enzo Maresca as they won the 2024 Championship title.

“Marescaball” is why Chelsea recruited the Italian in the weeks after that promotion and why he is now expected to succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager.

But Maresca’s football philosophy was not universally liked by Foxes fans, with the former Parma boss coming out a number of times to defend his approach in what was a solitary and hugely successful season in charge of the East Midlands side.

A point of difference with Martin is that his tactics can be more attack-minded and incisive.

“A lot of fans didn’t like how slow it was with Enzo,” Heath said.

“As a fan, I’d prefer us to have the ball at our feet. If we do get it right, I’m pretty certain it has the potential to be entertaining.”