Thursday 5 April 2018 15:32, UK
Leicester manager Claude Puel says his assistant Michael Appleton is completely focused on his duties at the King Power Stadium despite rumours he is in the frame for the West Brom job.
According to various newspaper reports, Albion are considering the 42-year-old Leicester assistant manager as a replacement for Alan Pardew, who left the club by mutual consent on Monday.
Appleton served as caretaker manager at the Hawthorns in 2011 before managing Portsmouth, Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and most recently Oxford United.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's game against Newcastle, Puel said: "Like the players before the transfer window, it's just speculation. It happens in football. Like the players, we all need to keep concentration until the end of the season.
When asked if Appleton had the ambition to be manager, Puel replied: "It's a good question for him and not for me. I am happy about all my staff, including Michael - all the staff from medical to technical. If we do well it is because of the good players but also the good staff around them. Michael has always given his best around the team and kept focused."
Puel has been nominated for the Premier League's manager of the month award for March alongside Jose Mourinho, Sean Dyche and Pep Guardiola but the Frenchman was quick to redirect the credit to his players and staff.
He continued: "It will be a good reward for the whole team and staff. If we end the season with good results and perhaps [qualify] for Europe. Individual rewards are not important for me. I want to think only about my team.
"A nomination is always about results and consistency. It's important to continue this way. Everton, Bournemouth, Watford; we are all close in the table. Our last game was not good enough in terms of quality, but we got the result. If we want to continue this way we have to play good football. It is important to keep the momentum."
