Ward looks set to face Brentford
DANNY Ward is fit and is favourite to line up in goal for Leicester City against Brentford tomorrow as the tough task of filling Kasper Schmeichel’s gloves begins, writes Jordan Blackwell.
Ward has not played a single match in pre-season after picking up a knee injury while representing Wales in June, but featured in an in-house match on Monday and has trained without issue since.
Daniel Iversen is his rival to become the club’s new number one after Schmeichel departed for Nice this week following 11 years and nearly 500 games with the club.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Ward has been Schmeichel’s deputy for four years and manager Brendan Rodgers has frequently said he has the quality to be a number one.
It seems now his patience will be rewarded and he will get the nod over Iversen, who impressed on loan at Preston in the Championship last season.
Rodgers would not reveal who would take over as number one, but did say Ward was ready to go, and was capable of stepping up.
Asked about the Wales international’s fitness, Rodgers told his press conference yesterday: “He’s come through that (in-house game) really well, with no issues at all. He had been training for a week or so up until that point.
“He played in the game and felt fine afterwards, with no problems, and then has had a really good week’s training.
“(When replacing Schmeichel) you’re looking for a goalkeeper who can stop the ball going in the net, can distribute, and can deal with the pressure.
“Kasper was absolutely brilliant, a guy of consistency in his performance level, so the next guy coming in to fill the number one shirt will be ready.
“I’ve always said it: Danny Ward I always felt was a number one goalkeeper, and Daniel Iversen has gone away and had experience and is number two now to Kasper in the Danish national team.
“Below him, we’ve got a fantastic young keeper (Jakub Stolarczyk) as well.
“I don’t feel like I need to look outside for a new goalkeeper. We’ve got guys inside that I believe deserve the opportunity.”