Wise grateful for Taylor's return call

Peter Taylor's first phone call to Dennis Wise ended his England career. His second, however, has given Wise the chance to extend his successful stay in the Premiership.

Leicester finally unveiled their £1.6million new boy at Filbert Street yesterday after beating off competition from Blackburn, Manchester City and Watford - where his former Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli has been installed.

Wise, 34, has agreed a three-year contract worth £5m to join Leicester and Taylor obviously thinks the midfielder can withstand the rigours of top-flight football until he is 37.

Taylor said: 'I've only spoken to Dennis twice. The first time was when I was with the England squad for the friendly against Italy in November. I left him out because he was too old. The second time was to bring him here. He's going to be a major, major player for us.

'We have missed a player of Neil Lennon's type since he left for Celtic and I needed someone who would get angry with others when things weren't going right.

'We lacked a leader. Someone who could get people by the throat and tell them to pull their finger out. Mind you, I would like to see Dennis try it with Matt Elliott and Gerry Taggart.'