Assistant manager Michael Appleton departs Leicester City

Assistant manager Michael Appleton has left Leicester amid a restructuring of Claude Puel's coaching staff.

Appleton, the former Blackburn and Oxford manager, joined Leicester on a three-year contract last June as Craig Shakespeare's number two.

Shakespeare was sacked in October after Leicester's poor start to the season and Appleton briefly took over - winning his two matches in charge - before Puel was appointed manager at the King Power Stadium.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Appleton for everything he has done to help me during his time with the club," Puel said in a statement on the Leicester website.

"He's a good man, a strong character and an excellent coach with the leadership qualities to continue building a successful career.

"We all wish him well in his future career.

"As we prepare to welcome the players back for the start of pre-season, I'm delighted to have a strong team of experienced, skilled and dedicated staff working to prepare the squad for the season ahead.

"Between our coaching, sports medicine, sports science and operational staff, we have a very good mix of characters and experience that will give great support to our players throughout the season."

Jacques Bonnevay, who has coached in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, has replaced Appleton as Puel's assistant.

Bonnevay most recently spent three years on the coaching staff of the Japan national team.

Pascal Planque, Mike Stowell and new first-team coach Adam Sadler, a former Newcastle reserve-team manager, complete the senior coaching team.

The first group of Leicester players report back for pre-season training on Monday, with the return of those involved at the World Cup staggered over the coming weeks.