Marti Cifuentes hoping Leicester can keep hold of match-winner Abdul Fatawu

Marti Cifuentes is hoping Abdul Fatawu will not be sold by Leicester in this transfer window after the Ghana winger scored a second-half stunner in his side’s 1-0 Championship victory at Charlton.

It was a finish of real quality by the 21-year-old, who whipped a sumptuous left-footed shot across Thomas Kaminski from just inside the edge of the penalty area after 48 minutes.

Leicester manager Cifuentes opted not to pick Bilal El Khannouss – a transfer window target for Crystal Palace – but wants Fatawu, who is linked with Sunderland, to stay.

The Spaniard said: “It was a fantastic goal which summarises really well what Abdul means to us.

“If I had to trust all the rumours and speculation then (head of media relations) Jonny (Lally), you have to start next weekend. There is speculation around most of our players.

“The target is that we arrive on September 1 in a good position with a team that we want to have. There are some key players that we want to keep and Abdul is one of them.

“The most important thing is we took a step forward in terms of the identity and culture I want to bring into the club.

“I saw a team that, despite there being a hundred things we can do better and that is on me, I saw a team that cares. I saw a team that wanted to work hard for each other, that every ball and situation really mattered to them.

“If we had to defend low we defended low – if we had to make a run for each other than we did. The fans were really strong throughout the game helping us – that sets the foundation.”

Charlton created plenty of chances – with Foxes goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk making a superb save to tip over a Conor Coventry thunderbolt – but failed to find the net for the second league match in a row.

Addicks boss Nathan Jones was annoyed at referee Dean Whitestone for disallowing a goal by Lloyd Jones.

The Welshman said: “We were dominant. It took a one-in-a-million strike to win the game. If that game was 5-1 it probably would’ve been a fair result.

“They demonstrated that ounce of quality that we didn’t. That is why we are sitting here with no points.

“Our level of performance was outstanding.

“The disallowed goal, I could get myself in trouble, it is an absolute travesty. It is an absolute fairytale. We caused so many problems from set-plays and they were released from jail by an individual that I just can’t comment on.

“If someone did their job today then we’re having a different conversation.

“I have masses of pride for the performance but I am seething at certain elements that happened.”