Leicester defender Ricardo Pereira has backed new boss Brendan Rodgers to be an instant hit.

The right-back believes the former Celtic manager is exactly what the Foxes need after he replaced Claude Puel this week.

Rodgers has signed a contract until 2022 at the King Power Stadium and will take charge for the first time when Leicester travel to face his former club Watford on Sunday.

The victory over Brighton was Leicester's first since New Year's Day, having lost seven of their previous nine games under Puel.

Pereira said: "From what I heard, he is a good coach. He likes to play good football. I think with the quality we have here he's going to be good for us.

"He would have (won the Premier League in 2014) but for the slip by Steven Gerrard. It's important that he has worked with big clubs. He is a manager with quality and he's done well with more than one team. I hope he continues that here.

"We want to start now, we have to improve game after game. We shouldn't wait for next season."

Rodgers won seven trophies in just under three years in Scotland, including two Ladbrokes Premiership titles, and spoke to the squad after Tuesday's 2-1 win over Brighton.

The 46-year-old was in the stands after signing his new contract hours before the game and was given a round of applause following his post-match pep talk in the dressing room.

Pereira said: "Yes, it was a good speech. He said good things are yet to come. He is looking for that from us.

"But I think that kind of thing will stay in the dressing room. He said that we played a good game, but he thinks we will play better.

"The manager is looking forward to working with us, he wants us to have a lot of quality and to improve us.

"It's been difficult. We lost at home (4-1 to Crystal Palace on Saturday), the manager went out but Tuesday was a good feeling for us."