Veteran keeper poised to start against Foxes
Champions hit by Covid chaos
CHAOS over Covid rules means Leicester City are likely to face a Manchester City side without either of their two firstchoice goalkeepers this weekend, writes Jordan Blackwell.
The Premier League champions are coming to the King Power Stadium but will not be permitted to field their number one goalkeeper Ederson, nor striker Gabriel Jesus, after Fifa handed a five-day ban to eight Brazilian Premier League players.
Ederson and Jesus were both called up to the Brazil squad for the international break but did not travel after Premier League clubs collectively decided to bar their players from going to red list countries.
If they had let them represent their nations, the affected players would have had to undergo a 10-day quarantine on their return to the UK, with the government not providing any exemptions for footballers.
Angered by the clubs’ refusal to release their players, the Brazilian Football Association asked Fifa to invoke a five-day suspension, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Leeds also affected.
Talks are ongoing but if the ban remains in place, it will be a boost for City on Saturday, as Pep Guardiola’s side are also without Ederson’s deputy Zack Steffen – who played in the Community Shield – after he tested positive for Covid.
They then may have to turn to veteran keeper Scott Carson, pictured.
The former Derby man has been Man City’s third choice for a few seasons, but has only made one competitive appearance, in a 4-3 win over Newcastle last season, his first top-flight game in 10 years.
Premier League clubs’ decision not to allow stars to travel to red list territories affected five City players – Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka, Daniel Amartey and Caglar Soyuncu – but they were able to represent their countries in some matches and are expected to be back and available for club football on Saturday.