JAMIE’S BACK!
Big semi-final boost for City as star recovers from injury
JAMIE Vardy will feature in Leicester City’s huge Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Aston Villa tonight (7.45pm kick-off) – even if he is only 80 per cent fit.
The City talisman tweaked a muscle in his left buttock in last week’s 4-1 win over West Ham and has been battling for fitness since.
City manager Brendan Rodgers said Vardy would feature as the club aim to reach their first final in 20 years, but did not know if he would available from the first whistle.
“He’s in the squad,” Rodgers confirmed at his press conference yesterday. “He’s worked very hard since his injury last midweek.
“He’s in the squad and then we’ll give it another full day, see how he is and see whether he starts or comes off the bench. But he’ll certainly have a part to play.
“It’s one where if you’re asking me: ‘Will he be 100 per cent?’ He might be 80 per cent, but I’d rather an 80 per cent Jamie Vardy, with what he gives the team, and his threat.
“It’s also about the further risk of injury with Jamie, that’s what we’re weighing up. But he’s come through the last two days on the field well.
“We’ll see how that looks in the morning, but I’m very confident he’ll be involved in some part.”
However, City will be without skipper Wes Morgan, who is struggling with illness, so Christian Fuchs or Filip Benkovic will be the centreback cover on the bench.
Papy Mendy is also out, with the Frenchman likely to be sidelined for between four and six weeks after he suffered a knee injury against West Ham.
“Obviously, Papy Mendy is out, he was out for the weekend, and Wes Morgan will be unavailable for the game,” said Rodgers.
“That will give other players the chance to come in and we’ll assess how Wes is over the next couple of days.
“He didn’t feel great after the game at the weekend (against Brentford). So he’s just having some tests, which will make him unavailable for this game.”