On the evidence of the last few weeks, Ranieri does not see the likes of Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney, two of the most pivotal figures in their promotion from the second tier, as key members of his army. Sessegnon, last season’s Championship player of the season, has started on the bench in six of the last eight matches. Cairney, meanwhile, has gone from being the club’s primary central midfielder to playing either on the wing, behind the striker or not at all.

There are others from last season’s campaign who have barely been seen this time around. Kevin McDonald has had niggly injuries, Stefan Johansen has joined West Bromwich Albion on loan and Marcus Bettinelli had been usurped as first-choice injury before undergoing knee surgery this month. But the sight of Sessegnon on the bench and Cairney on the wing remains the most telling example of the change Ranieri has wrought.

The Italian says he prefers Cairney, the club captain, to play further forward, where he can deliver the final shot or cross. Cairney, by contrast, has long said that he is best in the centre of midfield, dictating the play from deep. That is how he operated under Jokanovic, but Ranieri has different demands from what is stylistically a different team to the one he inherited. “When you are in the middle and lose the ball you have to work hard to regain the ball,” Ranieri said. “In that position, he stops. No. That’s no good. In that position you can win or lose the match, in the centre of midfield.”