In his first decisive move as Leicester City manager, Steve Cooper has reportedly identified his initial summer recruit.

The Welshman, appointed after a three-week search that saw him edge out Graham Potter, returns to Premier League management following his departure from Nottingham Forest six months ago. Now, Cooper faces the challenge of ensuring Leicester’s first season back in the top flight is a success.

The fine margins often determine Premier League survival, and Cooper is reportedly keen to maximise Leicester’s potential in one crucial area: set pieces.

According to the Mail Online, Cooper is ‘poised’ to bring in highly-regarded coach Andrew Hughes to his backroom team. Hughes, who specialises in dead-ball situations, is expected to leave his current post at Norwich City to join the Foxes.

Hughes, a former Reading and Leeds United player, is well-respected in the industry. Leicester have reportedly beaten off interest from Brentford for his services, aided by the lure of their top-tier training facilities. Brentford’s set-piece coach, Bernardo Cueva, is set to move to Chelsea, creating an opportunity for Hughes at Leicester.

During the previous season, Norwich City were the third-best attacking side from set pieces in the Championship, scoring 18 goals while conceding 12 from defensive dead-ball situations. In contrast, Leicester managed only 11 goals and conceded 13 from set pieces.

Cooper’s recruitment drive is particularly vital given that his predecessor, Enzo Maresca, took six coaches with him to Chelsea earlier this month. This departure has left Cooper with the task of rebuilding the coaching team almost entirely from scratch.

As Cooper begins to shape his new team at Leicester City, Hughes’ potential arrival could play a key role in improving their set-piece efficiency, a crucial factor in their bid for Premier League survival.