Leicester must be prepared to lose Wout Faes & Stephy Mavididi says Russell Martin

Leicester City boss Russell Martin said the club has to be prepared for further departures as it continues to streamline its squad for life in League One.

Belgian defender Wout Faes and winger Stephy Mavididi were left out of the Foxes squad for the season-opening draw at Notts County on Saturday.

Both players were involved in City's pre-season programme, with Mavididi starting the EFL Cup win over Northampton seven days earlier.

But their absence on Saturday suggests Martin does not expect to have either player available after the summer transfer window closes.

"I think we're navigating and managing change in the best way," Martin told BBC Radio Leicester.

"They've been really respectful, I think we're treating them with respect.

"Whilst they're here, they train, they're involved. We just feel that for us, we have to be prepared to be without them.

"And if they stay, no problem, we'd be really happy with both being here, but with the level of interest that we have.

"We've turned down bids for both, but that's ongoing, so we'll see, but I'm not sure any will go soon."

City were denied a confidence-boosting win by an 81st-minute equaliser at Meadow Lane which their new head coach put down to anxiety and "tension" among his young squad.

"I think that's the biggest learning for us that if we don't look after each other with the ball like we didn't in the last 20 minutes, the game becomes like that and it doesn't suit us," he said.

"It's the only frustration and it's because we have a couple of moments that make us anxious and we don't play with anywhere near enough intensity and detail with the ball in our half and it keeps coming back."

Yet Martin insisted there was "a lot to like" from the performance and the team, which included a debut off the bench for forward Admir Bristric.

"I'm really happy with the group we have, genuinely," he added.

"They're really young, you saw that at the end. With Admir, the front three was really young.

"So we could probably (do with) a couple of guys that have been there and done it to help us manage a game in that way, so we'll see, but there's nothing imminent in the next day or two."