Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has revealed that he is hoping to give Andrej Kramaric his debut against Stoke City on Saturday.
The Foxes announced last week that they had agreed a deal to sign the Croatian forward from Rijeka for a club-record fee, but the 23-year-old is still waiting to be granted a work permit by the Home Office.
However, Pearson believes that Kramaric could be involved against Stoke at the King Power Stadium after the Football Association backed the club's work permit application.
"We're still waiting for the official confirmation on Kramaric and hopefully that will come before Saturday," the Leicester boss told reporters. "As to whether he plays, that depends on whether we get the official clearance, but he is in contention.
"I'm no legal beagle, I don't know the ins and outs, but we have the backing of the federation and hopefully we will get the official work permit.
"Hopefully, when available, he will have a big impact for us. He is a player we have been looking at for more than two years, it is not as if it is something that has just come out of the blue."
Kramaric scored 21 goals in 18 league appearances for Rijeka this season before securing a move to Leicester.
Callum Mulvihill
