Nigel Pearson: 'Matty James may have suffered serious knee injury'

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson has conceded that midfielder Matty James may have sustained a serious knee problem that could rule him out for the rest of the season.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury early in his side's 2-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday as he appeared to get his studs caught in the turf before falling to the ground at the King Power Stadium.

Pearson also admitted that striker David Nugent will need a scan after picking up a knock late in the game after coming on as a substitute.

He told the club's official website: "We had to deal with a couple of injuries throughout the game. Matty James picked up what looks to be quite a serious knee injury then Nuge [David Nugent] going on as a sub and not being able to finish the game at full tilt.

"It potentially gives you a few problems. Credit to the players though, they dealt with what they had to today.

"[For Matty James] It really is a case of getting the scan done and taking it from there. It doesn't look to be at all encouraging. It could be a serious knee injury, but we'll wait and see what the scan tells us. With Nuge it'll be a case of having a scan and seeing where we go."

Riyad Mahrez netted a brace to send the Foxes three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with two games to play in their campaign.