After helping his side to a 4-2 Barclays Premier League win over Sunderland, Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater says his team-mates are optimistic for the season ahead.

- Danny Drinkwater says squad are feeling good following win over Sunderland

- Midfielder plays 90 minutes in 4-2 victory

- A brace from Riyad Mahrez and goals from Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton earn the Foxes all three points

- Drinkwater praises goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for his two early saves

After helping his side to a 4-2 Barclays Premier League win over Sunderland, Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater says his team-mates are optimistic for the season ahead.

The Foxes opened their 2015/16 campaign with an excellent performance against the Black Cats, with Drinkwater playing 90 minutes in the victory.

A first half double from Riyad Mahrez and goals from Jamie Vardy and the unstoppable Marc Albrighton secured the points, with Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher on target for the visitors.

The game saw Claudio Ranieri’s first competitive game in charge of City raise the roof of King Power Stadium, while the Italian’s players also had a welcome feeling of positivity.

“The lads are feeling good,” Drinkwater told Foxes Player HD. “It was a great result and a massive three points on the first day of the season, so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.

“At half-time we were just told to keep it the same. He (Claudio Ranieri) made a few points where we could improve still, which is good. Obviously the second half tally wasn’t as high in terms of scoring, but we ended up on top and most importantly we got the three points.”

Prior to Vardy’s opening strike, Sunderland had two good chances for themselves through headers from defenders Younès Kaboul and Sebastián Coates.

But two stops from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel kept the game goalless, before three goals in 13 minutes from the Foxes gave them a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.

Drinkwater continued: “The saves were obviously important for the win. Kasper’s shot-stopping is right up there. He’s a good goalkeeper.

“It’s important that when we do get our chances we put them away, which we did in the first half. Kasper made two good saves, and on the other side, our shots on target went in.”