Striker Fryatt grabbed the goals that helped City become champions in League One in 2009 - 32 in total, but City fans had to be patient for his form to come. He signed from Walsall, despite reported interest from Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Birmingham City, but endured an injury-hit and out-of-form first year-and-a-half with the Foxes. He netted just twice in 30 league games as the Foxes were relegated from the Championship but excelled the following campaign. He was named in the League One PFA Team of the Year, was named Players' Player of the Season for the club and was the League One Player of the Year. He also hit back-to-back hat-tricks for the first time since Arthur Chandler 83 years before.

The Nuneaton-born striker was also top scorer for the Foxes in the Championship the following season, hitting 13 goals despite a long spell on the sidelines with a broken jaw. His form saw him linked with West Brom and Wigan Athletic in that season's January transfer window but Fryatt remained a Fox.

But an influx in players for City in the 2010-11 season saw him complete a move to Hull City, to rejoin former city boss Nigel Pearson for a fee believed to be around £1.2m.