Villa game may come too soon for Tielemans...
DEWSBURY-HALL HOPING TO MAKE FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE START AHEAD OF SOUMARE
YOURI Tielemans is back in training but Leicester City’s trip to Aston Villa tomorrow may come too soon for him.
The Belgian midfielder has missed City’s last four games since injuring his calf in the 1-1 draw with Leeds last month.
He is now back training with his team-mates, but after nearly a month out, manager Brendan Rodgers is unsure that he will be ready to be thrown straight back into the line-up.
Also rejoining the rest of the City squad was James Justin, the fullback fit to continue the final stage of his recovery from a knee ligament tear, having suffered a setback last month.
Asked for a fitness update at his pre-match press conference, Rodgers said: “Youri’s back in training, James Justin is back in training, it might be too soon for the weekend, but they’re back in the training squad.” If Tielemans is left out, there will likely be a battle between Boubakary Soumare and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in midfield.
The latter replaced the former in midweek and helped spark a drastically-improved performance against Southampton.
After the game, Dewsbury-Hall said he hoped his display would give Rodgers a “harder” decision to make this weekend as he pushes for a first Premier League start.
And the manager admitted it does give him something to think about.
“He (Dewsbury-Hall) will definitely start games over this next period, whether it’s the next game or the ones to follow,” Rodgers said.
“I’ve been really impressed with his mentality to come in and keep proving that point.
“He’s a young player that’s developing very well.
“He came in and gave us that energy and culture in midfield, he was neat with his passing. His power was good in the game, breaking forward, and he was aggressive when he didn’t have it. I think he did very well and it gives us something to think about for the next game.”
The boss also confirmed that James Maddison would be fit to play at Villa Park after his influential performance at Southampton, where he received treatment from physios on multiple occasions in the second period.
The number 10 has hit top form in recent weeks, and has three goals and three assists in his last three outings. “He’s just recovering from that,” Rodgers said on Maddison. “It was an issue with his glute, but that seems fine and okay, so he’ll be ready for the game.”
Ricardo Pereira remains on the sidelines, while Wesley Fofana is the only long-term absentee, with the centre-back not due back until early next year.