Praet’s return is a real bonus for us – Rodgers
BELGIAN STAR TO FIGHT FOR PLACE IN TEAM
LEICESTER City have been given a “real bonus” after midfielder Dennis Praet indicated he is willing to stay and fight for his place at the club.
City manager Brendan Rodgers has said he expected the Belgian international to seek a transfer away from the club this summer, but instead he has returned “reinvigorated” and has impressed in pre-season showings.
He could even start against Brentford tomorrow, having replaced the injured Harvey Barnes on the left wing last weekend against Sevilla.
Praet spent last season on loan in Serie A with Torino, pushing for a move away from City because of his lack of game time at the end of the previous campaign.
While in Italy, he said he was no longer happy at the King Power Stadium, and felt he had been “treated somewhat unfairly”, with Rodgers not providing an explanation over his lack of minutes.
But it seems those bridges have been rebuilt.
Rodgers has now suggested Praet will feature regularly this season, either as a starter or as somebody who the manager knows he can turn to as an influential substitute.
“He’s very much a part of what we’re doing,” Rodgers said.
“I’ve been delighted with Dennis. I pulled him and had a chat with him Friday morning to tell him how well he’s done over pre-season.
“I think my notion when he came back, when we spoke in Evian, was that he was maybe one who wanted to move on and play, because he was in that situation before.
“But he’s come back reinvigorated and really wants to be here at the club, which is great, and over the course of the pre-season, he’s looked strong, he’s looked fit and he’s done very well in the games.
“I think he’s a real bonus for us that he wants to stay and compete for a place in the team.
“If he doesn’t play, I know I’ve got someone on the bench to come into the game, but I’m pretty sure he will end up having a really good season for us.”
Praet first arrived at City in 2019 in an £18 million move from Sampdoria.
His last competitive appearance for the club was as a substitute in a 3-0 win over West Brom in April 2021.