Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has said that he is insulted by claims that he will play a weakened lineup against Chelsea in their Premier League match on Wednesday evening.

It has been suggested that the Foxes may rest some key players ahead of their meeting with Newcastle United on Saturday, but Pearson insists that he will play the strongest team that is available to him.

"We expect them to be at their best as I am sure they will expect us to be at our best," BT Sport quotes Pearson as saying. "I think any questions that intimate there may be a hint of lack of commitment is pretty poor personally, from either side. I think that is an insult to our professionalism.

"My angle on it, and I will make it very clear again, is the considerations we have in relation to selecting the teams for this game will go along the same lines as we do for every game. That is to pick the strongest and best side for this fixture.

"What is our strongest side? Do you know? It is a loaded question. Our fundamental priority is getting it right for us. A weakened side is being disrespectful to our squad of players. I've never picked a side which doesn't have the integrity of any competition in mind."

Leicester have won their previous four league games to climb a point above the Premier League relegation zone.