Robbie Savage has claimed that Leicester City's exploits in the Premier League this season must rank as the greatest achievement in English football history.

The 5,000/1 rank outsiders are well on course to lifting the top-flight crown, as they lead closest challengers Tottenham Hotspur by five points heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

"What has happened at Leicester is a truly incredible story," Savage told Sports Mole. "For them to be top is just the most incredible thing I've seen since being involved in football.

"To be top and clear is just unbelievable, even if they don't go on to win the title – but to win it will be truly incredible; a special, special achievement."

The last time an East Midlands side triumphed in the top tier of English football was back in 1978, when newly-promoted Nottingham Forest themselves defied expectations to lift the title, before going on to claim a European Cup double.

However, Savage - who spent a combined 11 years in the Midlands with Birmingham City, Derby County and indeed Leicester - believes that the Foxes could completely reshape the face of football should they go all the way in the coming months.

"Forest winning back-to back European cups, having earned promotion from division two was of course also special," he added. "But when you look at it specifically in terms of this day and age, the likes of Arsenal, Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea all spending millions of pounds a year, Leicester will break the system in a way.

"You now no longer have to spend millions on players and further millions on wages to be successful. That's why I believe Leicester's is the bigger achievement."

The full interview with Savage, in association with the Heinz Big Soup initiative, can be found here.