No decision yet on Castagne selection

TIMOTHY Castagne will be assessed today to see if he can take part in Leicester City’s opening Premier League game of the season, writes Jordan Blackwell.

The Belgian full-back has been in full training for the past week, wearing a protective mask following a multiple fracture to his right eye socket at Euro 2020.

Although he has not featured in any of the pre-season games, manager Brendan Rodgers has said his fitness is good, and so one final assessment and conversation after today’s training session will determine if he is ready to face Wolves.

“We’re just going to make a final decision on Timothy,” Rodgers told his press conference yesterday. “He’s trained well this week.

“He’s been doing a lot of physical preparation work without joining in with the squad and then this week, he’s joined in. He’s got his mask now which he feels comfortable in.

“He’s virtually done everything that he would want and we would want for him to participate in the game.

“We’ll have a chat after training (on Friday) to see how he feels and then we’ll take it from there.”

Castagne’s return would reduce City’s injury list to four players, with Jonny Evans, Wesley Fofana, Papy Mendy, and James Justin out. But there is positive news there too.

Evans is now back training on the pitch for the first time since returning for pre-season, having continued to struggle with plantar fasciitis, a problem in the base of the foot.

However, this does not affect the timescale for his return, which is still planned for mid-September.

“Jonny was out on the pitch today,” Rodgers said. “The plan for him is for after the international break.

“But he’s out and doing some multi-directional work, and then we’ll just assess the pain of that.”

Mendy (groin) is due to be back in training soon, while Justin (knee) is expected to be back in late October or early November.

Fofana will have the longest absence following his surgery on a broken leg on Monday.

“He’s coming back home and he’s in great spirits,” Rodgers said on the French centre-half. “It’s hugely disappointing but he’s had the operation and it’s gone very well. It’s now just all about his recovery.”