Kruger is looking to establish himself in county cricket

Pace bowler Garnett Kruger will join compatriots HD Ackerman, Arno Jacobs and Claude Henderson at Grace Road.

Kruger replaces another South African, Charl Langeveldt, who was himself a stand-in for Indian seamer RP Singh.

"The fact that we have brought him in on a Kolpak deal means we have an option to bring in another overseas player," said coach Tim Boon.

"There may be developments on that front in the coming weeks."

Kruger's chance comes three years after he was due to join Leicestershire as an overseas player but had to pull out of his contract because of injury.

And Boon told the club's website they were looking to him to fill a similar role to Langeveldt, who has now returned to league cricket.

"Not only did Charl do a good job for us [with the ball], he was also a great influence on the younger bowlers around him.

"We are looking to Garnett to come in and do a similar job for us over the next couple of months, at which point we will review the situation."

Kruger has played three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match for South Africa, but has never appeared in Test cricket.