Tom Cannon scored his third goal in a week as much-changed Leicester moved into the fourth round of the FA Cup following an entertaining 3-2 victory at fellow Championship side Millwall.

Cannon scored twice in his first start for the Foxes against Huddersfield on New Year’s Day and was one of just four players retained from that game in their line-up as manager Enzo Maresca reminded everyone of the considerable strength of depth at his disposal.

Cesare Casadei and Ricardo Pereira put the Foxes 2-0 up and, after Duncan Watmore halved the deficit, Cannon struck with Zian Flemming setting up a nervy finish late on.

The first good chance went to Millwall, who as a League One club beat the then-Premier League champions the last time the two teams met in the FA Cup in February 2017.

In the fifth minute, Flemming’s pass put Watmore into space and he advanced into the area before his shot was beaten away by Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.

Another opening for the Lions soon followed when Watmore played a clever ball inside for Danny McNamara, whose effort also brought Stolarczyk into action.

But the Lions’ bright start counted for nothing as Leicester struck from their first real chance in the 16th minute when Marc Albrighton chipped in a superb cross that was nodded in by Casadei at the back post.

Millwall tried to hit back and captain Jake Cooper should have equalised when he sent a free header from Joe Bryan’s corner over.

The Foxes then showed their quality again by doubling their lead in the 39th minute when Casadei played Ben Nelson’s pass first time into the path of captain Pereira, who finished firmly into the bottom corner.

The tie could have been settled within eight minutes of the second half when Cannon’s shot was superbly tipped away by Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, who recovered to keep out Albrighton’s follow-up.

Instead, it looked like game on after 56 minutes when George Honeyman’s corner was nodded down by Flemming for Watmore to finish from close range.

However, Leicester restored their two-goal cushion five minutes later when Cannon beat Sarkic to Callum Doyle’s long pass outside the area before calmly rolling into the empty net.

The same combination almost manufactured a fourth for the Foxes as Cannon got in behind Wes Harding, but this time bent his shot narrowly wide.

It was all going the Foxes’ way now and it needed another double save from Sarkic, denying first Cannon then Albrighton to prevent the scoreline becoming even more emphatic.

Millwall gave themselves some late hope in the 86th minute when Flemming made the most of some awful marking to volley in Bryan’s corner, but time ran out for the 2004 finalists.

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca said he put no pressure on Tom Cannon to perform ahead of the Championship leaders’ 4-1 win against Huddersfield.

Cannon scored twice on his full debut for a Leicester side who now have a 10-point lead at the top of the table ahead of Ipswich.

The 21-year-old opened the scoring and added another just after the hour mark, as well as seeing another effort ruled out for offside.

Goals from Leicester captain Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi completed the scoring for the hosts. Huddersfield captain Michal Helik pulled one back but Maresca’s side were always in control as they stretched their unbeaten record to 10 matches.

Cannon had been out of action until last month due to a stress fracture of the back which Leicester discovered when the player signed in September.

“It hasn’t been easy for Tom, he was two or three months out with the injury, then we’d been winning games with Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka,” said Maresca.

“Tom’s had to wait for his chance and, yes he scored two goals. But when you don’t play games, and suddenly you get your chance, everyone is expecting big things.

“But it’s difficult to do those things.

“I told him to ‘just go out there, and don’t think it’s your first time and you need to show people, or me, that you’re good. Because if you’re here, we think you’re good enough. Just enjoy it’.

“It’s not easy, but he gave everything along with the whole team.”

Maresca explained what happened when Cannon signed.

“We bought Tom thinking he was fit. We saw from the medical and saw he had a problem, we didn’t know that,” he said.

“It was strange as he had been playing at Everton. But I knew Tom from his loan spell at Preston last season, and he scored eight goals.

“But even though he was fit, he wouldn’t have played from the start because there are so many good forwards here.”

Cannon says he hopes to emulate Vardy at Leicester, and Maresca says he will learn from the former Golden Boot winner.

“I think if you ask any striker in the world, they would want to learn something from Jamie Vardy,” said the Italian.

“But if Tom’s 50 per cent as good as Jamie, then I’ll be happy.”

Huddersfield manager Darren Moore said Leicester showed why they are promotion favourites.

“We were beaten by the better side on the day, they’re top of the league for a reason – the players can’t feel any disgrace for their performance,” said Moore.

“The second goal was disappointing for me as that took the game away from us.

“At 3-1, we had some wonderful opportunities, if we’d taken them then it might’ve been a different end to the game.

“That’s credit to how we set up and how we go about games.

“From a mental aspect, we have that endeavour not to give up and show commitment. That’s really important and we did get back into the game.

“But when they scored the fourth goal, that was it for the game. But Michal has scored seven goals as a centre-back, but if you ask him, he’d rather have the clean sheets and the wins.

“We feel more now that we are fitter and more robust.”

Tom Cannon scored twice on his full Leicester debut as Enzo Maresca’s side strengthened their lead at the top of the Championship with a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield.

The result extended their unbeaten run to 10 games as Leicester aim to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. They now have a 10-point lead ahead of Ipswich.

It was a game of few chances in the first half, but Cannon opened the scoring five minutes before half-time with his first goal for the club.

James Justin’s cross into the 18-yard box was flicked on by Ricardo Pereira and Cannon hit the ball first time to drive it past Lee Nicholls in the Huddersfield goal.

Leicester signed the 21-year-old Cannon from Everton on deadline day last summer, even though the player was carrying a stress fracture in his back.

Maresca went ahead with the deal regardless, saying Cannon was a player for the future. He only made his debut as a substitute three weeks ago against Plymouth.

But with Leicester short on forwards, he was given his chance to start. Jamie Vardy was still missing through injury, and Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho were not named in the squad, with both due to be playing in the Africa Cup of Nations later this month.

Cannon made the most of his opportunity, and he added to his first goal with a second after the break.

Leicester went two up after 47 minutes when Abdul Fatawu found Justin who swung in a cross which was met by captain Pereira, whose header found the far corner.

Cannon scored again in the 61st minute when he collected a through ball from Harry Winks. The Leicester forward held off a challenge from Huddersfield defender Tom Lees before placing his shot past Nicholls.

But Maresca’s side appeared to lose focus after that, and Huddersfield pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute.

Lees met a corner from Sorba Thomas, and Huddersfield captain Michal Helik prodded the ball in from inside the six-yard box.

Darren Moore’s side then came close to scoring a second when Ben Wiles’ shot was deflected for a corner.

With 20 minutes left, Jack Rudoni forced Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen into a save.

But Leicester restored their three-goal lead when Huddersfield substitute Loick Ayina fouled Stephy Mavididi 20 yards from goal. Mavididi took the free-kick himself and bent it through a gap in the Huddersfield wall and saw his shot find the net via the inside of the near post.

Pereira might have made it five for Leicester with three minutes left, but he swept a shot over the bar after being set up by substitute Marc Albrighton.

Huddersfield remain four points above the relegation zone.

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca says his Sky Bet Championship leaders have surprised him after passing the 60-point mark before the turn of the year with victory at Cardiff.

The Foxes strolled to a 2-0 win in the Welsh capital with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Justin James producing brilliant efforts.

Leicester now have 62 points from 25 games – eight clear of second-placed Ipswich – and are chasing Reading’s record Championship total of 106 from the 2005-06 season.

Maresca’s side are now unbeaten in nine games – seven wins and two draws – and their 20th league success came three days after drawing at Ipswich.

“I am very happy for one reason, that in this moment with this amount of games, the effort from the players has been unbelievable,” said Maresca.

“To play two games in a row away from home is very difficult, playing every three days. I think the club has to be happy.

“The fans need to be proud of these players – they are and showing the desire to win even in this period.

“To finish the year with more than 60 points. I don’t think anybody expected this, me included. Now we need to continue.”

Leicester were without Kelechi Iheanacho – who was named in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad on Friday – in Cardiff.

Maresca said: “Kelechi had a muscular problem two days ago. We are still waiting to see if it is something important or something just a matter of days.

“But I don’t think will be able (to play) for next one.”

On reporting for Nigeria duty, Maresca said: “It depends on the injury. If it is an important injury for sure he has no chance to go. If it is not an important injury he can go.”

Cardiff have lost six of their last 10 games in slipping to 14th in the Championship, although they are only five points adrift of sixth-placed.

The Bluebirds lost striker Karlan Grant to injury before half-time, with boss Erol Bulut providing a gloomy update.

Bulut said: “It’s a hamstring, maybe a rupture. It doesn’t look good. We will know more when he has the scan.

On the game, Bulut – who hopes to be active in the January transfer window after “positive” talks with Cardiff owner Vincent Tan – added: “I can speak only positive things about my team and we have to continue to work on it.

“I think we are in a positive way. A good way. We cannot compare ourselves with Leicester.

“I always said we wanted to be around the play-offs. We have a lot of games to push. And also in January, I hope for a few transfers to push for more.”

Leicester continued their relentless march at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Cardiff.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Justin were on target with strikes that were as pure as Leicester’s command was total.

This was Leicester’s 20th win from 25 league games as the Foxes continue to hunt down Reading’s record Championship points total of 106 set in the 2005-06 season.

Enzo Maresca’s side were unruffled to complete a season’s double over their Cardiff hosts, who harbour play-off hopes but have now only won once in six home games.

Some eyebrows were raised that both sides chose to wear shirts with different forms of blue as the main colour, but it was not overly difficult to decipher who was who for large parts – Leicester were the team with the ball.

The visitors’ possession game split open the Cardiff defence after 14 minutes as Leicester moved the ball one way and then the other.

Jannik Vestergaard found Abdul Fatawu on the right and his cross found the unmarked Dewsbury-Hall with the goal at his mercy.

But Jak Alnwick sprang superbly to his right and kept out Dewsbury-Hall’s header.

Cardiff’s defence, however, were breached within four minutes as Joe Ralls was caught out by Leicester’s high press.

The Bluebirds captain lost possession and Dewsbury-Hall made no mistake this time, by arrowing home a low shot for his eighth league goal of the season.

Leicester were superbly drilled, rarely losing the ball but when doing so rushing around the Cardiff player in possession to win it back.

The Foxes went close again when Stephy Mavididi’s cross made its way to the back post but the bounce deceived Fatawu, who sent his header over.

Cardiff striker Karlan Grant limped off just before the break and his departure coincided with the Bluebirds’ best period.

Ralls twice had efforts blocked by Wout Faes and Kion Etete lacking composure at the final moment.

Leicester got the breathing space their performance deserved after 54 minues, Fatawu setting up full-back Justin for a 25-yard spectacular that flew over the head of Alnwick and into the top corner.

A rare goalscorer, it must surely rank as among the finest of Justin’s career.

Wilfred Ndidi almost put his name on the scoresheet immediately but Dimitrios Goutas’ timely block saved the beaten Alnwick.

Cardiff forced a first save from Mads Hermansen after 64 minutes, but the Leicester goalkeeper comfortably held Manolis Siopis’ low drive.

Fatawu almost matched the purity of Justin’s strike when cutting inside on his left foot from 25 yards.

The ball crashed against the far post with Patson Daka shooting over with Alnwick prostrate on the floor.

Mavididi also hit the woodwork in the closing stages as Leicester stretched their unbeaten run consisting of seven wins and two draws from nine games.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna felt his side were full value for a point after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with table-topping Leicester at Portman Road.

Town fought back from a goal down after 24 minutes through a super strike by Stephy Mavididi but a deflected shot by Sam Morsy in the third minute of stoppage time earned a share of the spoils.

The midfielder’s effort from the edge of the penalty area struck Ricardo Pereira and then the head of Jannik Vestergaard and left City’s goalkeeper Mads Hermansen helpless.

The draw resulted in Town remaining six points adrift of The Foxes and five points ahead of third placed Southampton who moved up a place to become the Tractor Boys’ nearest challengers for an automatic promotion spot following their 5-0 victory over Swansea.

McKenna said: “Getting the goal at the end was what we deserved at the very least.

“I thought that we had a really positive start to the game. Leicester scored the first goal with a good bit of quality which they can do, a good move, top quality execution and finish as well.

“It was a game where we were good in most aspects. I thought we pressed really well against one of the best, if not the best build up teams in the league and limited them as well.

“We built well against a team that usually press well and it’s hard to create good chances against a team that is so stubborn but we created enough to warrant a goal.

“I thought on the whole we did a lot more right than wrong for sure.”

Enzo Maresca was frustrated to come so close to another three points.

Maresca said: “It’s a shame because we were so close to win one more game but at the same time we expected during the game to drop a little bit.

“With this amount of the games it’s normal to think that playing the game every few days you can drop a little bit.

“Overall I think for 65/70 minutes we, especially first half, we had three or four chances one v one … we score a goal then probably last 10/15 minutes we concede a little bit more, we concede them control but playing every three days, the way this team (Ipswich) are doing is fantastic, it’s normal but at the end of the day I am happy.

“Second half for 20 minutes, half an hour we controlled quite good but then the last 10 minutes we concede a little bit more and lose easy ball … I think it’s normal, they are human beings and playing every few days they can drop a little.”

Sam Morsy’s twice deflected stoppage-time equaliser earned second-placed Ipswich a 1-1 draw at home to Championship leaders Leicester.

Morsy’s effort from the edge of the penalty area struck Ricardo Pereira and then the head of Jannik Vestergaard to leave Foxes goalkeeper Mads Hermansen helpless.

Leicester had taken the lead in the 24th minute with a strike from just inside the penalty area by Stephy Mavididi.

The result left Town still six points adrift of their opponents and five points ahead of third placed Southampton, who moved up a place to become the Tractor Boys’ nearest challengers for an automatic promotion spot following their 5-0 victory over Swansea.

Ipswich bounced back from Saturday’s chastening 4-0 loss against Leeds and even stretched their advantage over the Whites to eight points after they were beaten 2-1 by Preston and dropped down to fourth earlier on Boxing Day.

A cross from Wes Burns into the penalty area, aimed for raiding full-back Leif Davis, was headed away for an Ipswich corner by Abdul Fatawu as the hosts made a proactive start.

But they were dealt an injury blow in the 20th minute when George Hirst suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury and he was forced off.

There were handball appeals by Ipswich players in the 21st minute when the ball appeared to go close to the outstretched hand of Conor Coady but three minutes later the Foxes took the lead through Mavididi.

He found acres of space on the left and curled a shot beyond the reach of Ipswich goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky into the corner of the net.

Referee Sam Barrott turned away penalty appeals from City following a challenge by Cameron Burgess on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Patson Daka was denied by Hladky.

Just before the half-time break a sweeping cross into the Leicester penalty area from Davis was cleared by a stretching Wout Faes to prevent substitute Kayden Jackson meeting the ball at the far post.

Vestergaard grazed the roof of the Ipswich net with his header following a free-kick by Dewsbury-Hall and Conor Chaplin just failed to catch Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off his line with a shot from just inside the Foxes’ half.

Hermansen then had to dive full length to tip a stunning shot from Chaplin round the post and the Ipswich striker fired over the bar from just inside the penalty area.

Dewsbury-Hall then went down in the penalty area following a challenge by Davis but the referee waved play on and Ipswich grabbed a deserved equaliser in the final moments.

Enzo Maresca insists his Leicester side are still improving and learning after easing to a 3-0 win against bottom-placed Rotherham to move six points clear at the top of the Championship.

The Foxes opened the scoring on the hour mark when Patson Daka finished from close range before the striker doubled the lead from the penalty spot five minutes later after he was fouled by Viktor Johansson.

On-loan midfielder Cesare Casadei sealed the points after 72 minutes with a diving header from Ricardo Pereira’s cross from the left to earn the Foxes a fifth successive league victory.

Maresca said: “I’m very happy, at the start of the season I didn’t expect to have this many points at the halfway stage, nobody expected that.

“Winning 19 out of 23 games is not easy but we have many things that we need to improve.

“We are learning how to play teams who sit and who play with a high press, it’s not easy. I was happy with the first half because we were doing the right things.

“We created three or four clear chances in the first half which is difficult against this type of team, when they sit back it’s complicated to find a solution.

“In the end we did the most difficult thing and scored a goal and it was easier after the goal.

“The target is to get promoted, we need to continue, we are almost in January, the players know if some of them drop (their levels) they won’t play.”

Rotherham are nine points from safety at the foot of the table and have failed to win any of their last 11 league matches having lost all three games under new boss Leam Richardson.

Richardson said: “It’s a challenging league and a challenging position that we’re in but one of the things we can guarantee is that we’ll make a right good fist of it.

“It’s my job to build a habit and instil a mentality within the training ground that filters out onto the pitch, if we do that, we’ll make a fist of it.

“You can go into any football club and have an ideal way of playing and what you want to do and force things on the players.

“The best thing to do is find the good attributes you’ve got within the group and try and bring them to the front as quick as you can and build from that platform.

“Every game we’ve got to try and deliver a performance, there’s a lot of work to do and a lot of things that need to happen to move forward.

“Everything is a habit, winning is a habit, losing is a habit, if you’ve got bad habits you’ll serve for them but if you’ve got strong habits they’ll come to the front and that’s what we need to change.”

Patson Daka’s second-half brace helped Leicester move six points clear at the top of the Championship with a comfortable 3-0 win against bottom-placed Rotherham.

After a goalless first period, Daka opened the scoring on the hour mark with a simple finish from close range before then converting from the penalty spot five minutes later after he was fouled by Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

Foxes substitute Cesare Casadei completed the scoring with a diving header in the 72nd minute as the home side secured a fifth straight league win to extend their lead at the top following Ipswich’s heavy defeat at Leeds in the early kick-off.

Rotherham remain rooted to the foot of the table, nine points from safety, having lost all matches under new boss Leam Richardson and are winless in their last 11 league games.

The Foxes created the game’s first chance when a short corner was played to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who cut in from the left before curling a shot well over the crossbar.

Soon after, Dewsbury-Hall burst into the box only to be denied by Johansson who was quick off his line to smother the midfielder’s effort.

Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi was next to try his luck, driving a low shot straight at Johansson from distance.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the first half, as Stephy Mavididi blazed a volley high into the stand when left unmarked at the back post.

And shortly before half-time, Foxes defender Wout Faes blasted an effort over the bar in frustration from 25 yards.

Leicester almost broke the deadlock early in the second half when Abdul Fatawu caught Hakeem Odoffin in possession inside his own box only for Sean Morrison to make a superb goalline clearance and deny Daka the opening goal.

Johansson then made a crucial save to keep out Ricardo Pereira’s shot from inside the box before bravely claiming the loose ball.

However, the Foxes finally made the breakthrough on the hour mark as Daka finished from close range after Johansson saved Faes’ initial effort and Ndidi miskicked the ball into the scorer’s path.

And the home side won a penalty four minutes later when Daka took the ball around Johansson only to have his legs taken away by the goalkeeper after the Millers were caught in possession deep inside their own half.

Daka duly picked himself up to coolly fire the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner and score his fourth goal in as many league matches.

Leicester made sure of the points 18 minutes from time when substitute Casadei placed a diving header into the bottom right corner from Pereira’s cross from the left, just two minutes after coming off the bench.

The Foxes have now scored three or more goals in each of their last four games while Rotherham are winless on the road in 24 matches dating back to November 2022.

Birmingham boss Wayne Rooney said he could understand why Leicester excessively celebrated a goal in front of home fans after his side were beaten 3-2 by the Sky Bet Championship leaders.

Leicester forward Stephy Mavididi was booked after climbing an advertising hoarding and goading Blues supporters in the Tilton End behind the goal at St. Andrew’s.

“There’s emotion in the game and players celebrate – I got a mobile phone thrown at me at Anfield, so players have their reasons,” said Rooney.

“Of course you want players to be respectful of the fans and I’m sure I’ll have one of my players do something to upset away fans.

“It’s good that they can celebrate – I don’t mean against us, but I was listening to the Chelsea game on the radio driving home the other day and a goal went in but no one celebrated because they were waiting for VAR to check it.

“It’s good they can look across and see they are onside and celebrate their goals.”

Rooney admitted Birmingham were “naive”, adding: “For 30 minutes we were really good – we pressed them really well and created chances.

“But we were naive for their first two goals and we allowed them to control the last 10 minutes of the first half.”

Leicester took the lead from a speedy breakaway from a Birmingham corner in the 10th minute.

Abdul Fatawu sped away and squared to Mavididi to dink over goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Jordan James levelled after 15 minutes, finding the bottom corner with a low shot after Siriki Dembele squared to Ivan Sunjic, who supplied the final pass.

Leicester regained the lead after 22 minutes when Ricardo Pereira dispossessed Juninho Bacuna and Fatawu again raced goalwards, releasing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to round Ruddy and slot home.

Mavidivi made it 3-1 in the 50th minute when his curling shot from 15 yards took a slight deflection and flew past Ruddy, before James’ shot deflected in off Jannik Vestergaard for 3-2 after 74 minutes.

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca admitted his team “don’t like” counter-attacking, despite scoring their first two goals from breaks.

“We don’t like counter-attacking but sometimes you need to use it,” he said. “We plan the game, but it depends on how the opponent tries to defend against us.

“We struggled for the first 15-20 minutes then we were completely in control, creating chances.

“But when you don’t take your chances, the opponent is there waiting, so they scored their second goal.

“Even after that, I liked the way the team behaved all together so I’m very happy.”

Stephy Mavididi scored twice as Leicester extended their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to three points with a 3-2 win against Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

Leicester fans wore Jamie Vardy masks in support of their absent striker, whose wife Rebekah lost a court case against Blues boss Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen after a judge ruled Vardy’s wife passed on information about Rooney to the press.

A dramatic start saw three goals in the first 22 minutes.

Birmingham created the first opening but midfielder Jordan James’ low, bouncing drive was straight at goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Blues forced two early saves from the Danish stopper, who blocked Siriki Dembele’s shot with his legs then tipped over Krystian Bielik’s back header from Marc Roberts’ long throw-in.

Leicester took the lead from a speedy breakaway from a Blues corner in the 10th minute – after James Justin’s sliced clearance cannoned off his own post.

Abdul Fatawu sped away, and in a two-v-one, squared to Mavididi to dink the ball over advancing keeper John Ruddy for a classy finish.

Mavididi was booked for climbing the advertising hoarding and goading Birmingham fans in his celebration.

Rooney’s side were level after 15 minutes when James found the bottom corner with a low shot after Dembele squared to Ivan Sunjic, who supplied the killer pass.

Leicester regained the lead in the 22nd minute in another lightning counter-attack which started on the edge of their own box.

This time Ricardo Pereira dispossessed Juninho Bacuna and Fatawu again raced goalwards, releasing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to round Ruddy and slot into an empty net for his seventh goal of the season.

Leicester went close to extending their lead when Dewsbury-Hall crossed deep inside the area but Patson Daka fired wide with a first-time effort from seven yards, before the Zambia striker curled well off target on the angle.

The visitors made it 3-1 in the 50th minute when Mavididi’s curling shot from 15 yards took a slight deflection and flew past Ruddy.

Leicester wasted other chances but Blues jangled their nerves when a James shot deflected in off Jannik Vestergaard to make it 3-2 after 74 minutes.

Inspired by the goal, Birmingham applied pressure but struggled to penetrate Leicester’s determined rearguard as the visitors stayed firm to make it four straight wins and six matches unbeaten.

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca says Patson Daka is capable of holding off Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho when both strikers are fit again after scoring in the 3-2 win over Millwall.

Zambia international Daka netted for the second game running as the Foxes came from behind to secure a victory which sent them back to the top of the Championship table, moving them one point ahead of Ipswich.

It was only Daka’s second start of the season after having to wait for his chance with injured Vardy and ill Iheanacho both missing.

Maresca confirmed that Vardy’s knee issue will keep him out of Monday’s match at Birmingham, now managed by Wayne Rooney, but Iheanacho is set to be available.

The Italian says Daka, who will go to the African Cup of Nations next month, deserves to stay in the team.

“I’ve been quite clear with them,” said Maresca.

“If you’re playing, you deserve it. If someone comes in and they’re doing well, you need to work.

“Patson is scoring goals and working hard, after three or four months of having to wait. We’re going to trust him and give him more chances, no doubt.”

Millwall took the lead through Tom Bradshaw, but second-half goals from Jannik Vestergaard, Daka and Ricardo Pereira, whose shot was deflected in off Wilfred Ndidi, settled the game.

Maresca added: “It was a tough game. We expected them in one way. But since the new manager arrived, they have played always in a line of four. Here, they came here with a line of five and two holding midfielders.

“In the first half, we were in control of the game, but without creating clear chances. At half-time, we adjusted some things.

“Instead of attacking with five, we attacked with six. We brought one more player in the last line. It was much better second half for sure.”

A stoppage-time goal from Millwall substitute Kevin Nisbet proved no more than a consolation.

“We came here with with clear plan, which is all well and good, but the players have to execute it,” said Millwall manager Joe Edwards.

“I thought they did it to a tee in the first half. We had our moments. At half-time, we were pleased with our work and knew we’d given ourselves a chance.

“We felt confident we could go and do it again. But we conceded a sloppy goal, and after that we weren’t quick enough to things. Not clinical.

“Then we started playing well again in the last 10 minutes. For two minutes at the end, it’s game on.

“You’re always hoping to win, but a draw would’ve been a great result. We felt that if we came to Leicester with a high press and went toe to toe with them, we wouldn’t get any rewards by losing 4-0.

“But we felt we wanted to show we could offer a threat. It was a frustrated place at half-time, you could feel that. That’s what we came to do. The question then is ‘how long can we sustain it?’”

Leicester fought back to beat Millwall 3-2 and regain top spot in the Championship.

Enzo Maresca’s side netted three second-half goals to put them back in control after Tom Bradshaw had opened the scoring for the visitors.

Jannik Vestergaard’s header levelled the scores after 48 minutes before Patson Daka scored for the second game running. The Zambia striker put the ball over the line from close range in the 52nd minute.

Ricardo Pereira scored Leicester’s third from the edge of the penalty area with a shot that took a deflection off team-mate Wilfred Ndidi and wrong-footed Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.

Millwall scored a second goal in stoppage time when substitute Kevin Nisbet forced the ball home from a corner.

Leicester lost top spot to Ipswich on Tuesday night, but they now lead them by a point.

Jamie Vardy missed the game with a knee injury and Kelechi Iheanacho was ill, so Daka got another chance after scoring against Plymouth on Saturday.

Millwall have now only won one of the last 11 games, but they took the game to Leicester and opened the scoring when Murray Wallace shook off Abdul Fatawu and crossed for Bradshaw to glance a header into the top corner.

Leicester looked to have won a penalty after 38 minutes when Fatawu went down under a challenge from Wes Harding, who was already on a yellow card. But all appeals were waved away by referee Keith Stroud, with defender Conor Coady booked for his protests.

Leicester began the second half strongly and equalised when Vestergaard connected with a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cross and saw his header loop over the line.

They scored a second through Daka. Harry Winks started the move, found Ndidi on the left, and his cross was met by Daka who chested the ball in from two yards.

Leicester were fully in control by the hour mark, and Stephy Mavididi almost made it three when he connected with a Fatawu cross, but headed into the side-netting.

Leicester confirmed their third win in a row when Pereira’s shot found its way in, but Millwall’s second goal came too late to trouble the Foxes.

Enzo Maresca felt Championship leaders Leicester thoroughly deserved their thumping 4-0 win over Plymouth as they secured their biggest victory of the season so far.

Leicester took the lead through Stephy Mavididi’s 14th-minute penalty before Patson Daka coolly found the net four minutes into the second period and the former struck again with a drilled effort after 52 minutes to make it three.

The Foxes completed the scoring after 55 minutes courtesy of Wilfred Ndidi’s accurate finish, the Nigeria international continuing to impress boss Maresca, who has given the midfielder more of an attacking role this term.

Maresca said: “It was a very good performance, we completely deserved the three points, we controlled the game really well.

“We are trying to improve the way we play. We know we have the best defence and we have scored the second most goals in the league.

“Wilf has improved a lot. In terms of physicality you expect everything, you don’t expect quality (in the final third), but since day one I can see there is something there.

“I’m happy because when you see a player making the effort to understand how they have to play it’s good and he deserves it.

“The situation with Patson has been a bit strange. Since day one he has worked and behaved fantastically, but because I play with one striker he hasn’t got many minutes.

“It was a chance for him and he took it and I’m very happy for him because he completely deserves it.”

Plymouth suffered their heaviest defeat of the season and remain winless in 10 matches on their travels this campaign.

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher said: “We’re disappointed with the result. I was really pleased with a lot of aspects, the performance, effort and commitment was outstanding.

“We should have been level at half-time. In the second half we’ve been undone by one moment of quality and a couple of mistakes.

“As long as the players keep putting the effort in, which I know they are and our fans can see that they are, then we’ll be fine.

“We just didn’t have enough quality to put the ball in the back of the net. They’ve got better players than us and are more clinical and have played at a better level, we’re doing the best we can.

“The fans can see we’re giving it our all and doing our best, unfortunately we just came up against a team who are better than us.

“We cannot let our standard drop, we can’t let the energy drop, we need to be a bit more clinical in both boxes.”

Stephy Mavididi scored twice as Leicester cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Plymouth to remain top of the Championship table.

Mavididi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 14 minutes before the Foxes scored three goals in a scintillating seven-minute spell after the break to take the game out of Argyle’s reach.

Patson Daka doubled Leicester’s lead with a cool finish after 49 minutes before Mavididi drilled home his second of the game just three minutes later.

Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi completed the scoring in the 55th minute, finishing in off a post from Daka’s pass to ensure the Foxes remain one point clear at the top of the table.

Plymouth in contrast are winless in 10 league games on the road this season.

The game burst into life when Mavididi went to ground in the box under a challenge from Julio Pleguezuelo before stepping up to roll the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.

Enzo Maresca’s side spurned a glorious chance to double their lead four minutes later as Ndidi shot straight at Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper when one on one after being played through by Harry Winks’ delightful pass.

Moments later Daka, making his first league start of the season, somehow failed to score from point-blank range at the back post before Abdul Fatawu’s curling shot went inches wide.

Plymouth’s best chance of the game fell to Mustupha Bundu just past the half-hour mark as Foxes goalkeeper Mads Hermansen made a crucial save to deny the Argyle attacker when one on one.

Leicester wasted another chance to stretch their lead before the break with Ndidi just unable to reach a ball across the box with the goal at his mercy following a blistering counter-attack.

The visitors almost drew level in first-half injury time as Hermansen kept out Callum Wright’s low shot with his legs.

However, the home side eventually doubled their lead four minutes into the second half as Daka opened his Championship account for the season with a cool finish into the bottom left corner from Fatawu’s flick.

The home side struck again as Mavididi showed excellent feet before drilling a low effort past Cooper from inside the area to all but end the game as a contest.

And Leicester made it four after 55 minutes as Ndidi passed the ball in off the left-hand post from a tight angle from Daka’s pass after Hamza Choudhury won possession deep in the Plymouth half.

The Foxes had chances to further add to their lead as Cooper made an excellent save to keep out Jannik Vestergaard’s header at the back post from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross.

Argyle never gave up and went close to a consolation goal when substitute Luke Cundle fired straight at Hermansen when well-placed in the box.