Assistant manager Alan Cork believes Leicester City will have a squad in place by the start of the season which is capable of mounting a promotion push.
A new-look squad is starting to take shape with the addition of several new faces during the last couple of weeks.
So far Gareth Williams, Dion Dublin, Danny Tiatto and Jason McAteer have agreed to assist City as they aim to bounce back up to the Premiership at the first time of asking and Cork yesterday hinted that "one or two more players" could be on their way to the Walkers Stad-ium this week.
"We should have a competitive squad in place by the start of the campaign," said Cork.
"There is still room for improvement but I think the boys that have come in so far should improve us and make us into a better footballing side who have a chance of doing well.
"We've now got a good blend of youth and experience at this club."
Of the new recruits, only Dublin attended the club's first day of pre-season yesterday, but there was no sign of veteran striker Les Ferdinand whose future remains uncertain despite being given the all-clear after knee surgery during the close-season.
"Dion is a fit boy, he's come in and mixed with the lads well," Cork said. "He's a good signing for us."
Cork also revealed that the players are raring to go after their six-week break ahead of their Coca-Cola Championship opener against West Ham on Saturday, August 7.
"Pre-season is a horrible time for the players," he added.
"As a player you have nightmares at the end of a campaign thinking about the following pre-season and what must be done to get fit again.
"But all the players understand that it is an extremely important part of the year and are raring to go.
"In my day you used to turn up on the first day, get weighed and then start laughing at the scales, but it's all changed now.
"The boys get paid a lot of money to be professional."
City have friendlies lined up against non-league duo Kettering Town and Shepshed Dyn-amo next week and also have trips to Finland and Scotland scheduled.
"You have to wrap up the players in cotton wool to a certain extent but the aim now is to make sure everyone is ready for that first game against West Ham," he added.
Cork confirmed that Peter Canero (hip) and Lee Morris (thigh) are on the road to recovery after injury.
He said: "Peter has still got a bit of a problem but he has trained OK while Lee is about 90-per-cent fit.
"It's a case of making sure they get the running work in during the first couple of weeks."
