DEFENSIVE DUO UNLIKELY TO BE FIT TO FACE CHAMPS
CENTRE-HALVES WILL NEED TIME TO BUILD UP THEIR FITNESS
NEITHER Jonny Evans nor Jannik Vestergaard are likely to be fully fit for Leicester City’s clash with Manchester City as preparations begin for a big month at the King Power Stadium.
City have been down to the bare bones in defence this season, with Evans (foot) and Vestergaard (knee) two of three centre-backs currently on the sidelines, along with Wesley Fofana.
While the pair are scheduled to be back in training this week, it’s not just a case of them overcoming their injuries, but building their fitness as well.
Evans has not been in full contact training since injury forced him off in the FA Cup final in May.
Vestergaard had only been back in for a week at Southampton before he joined City, and then he overstretched his knee at the end of his first full week with his new club.
Daniel Amartey and Caglar Soyuncu have been City’s centre-back pairing for the first three Premier League games of the season and right now seem likely to keep their places when the champions come to town.
That clash with Pep Guardiola’s side kicks off a busy few weeks for City, with their Europa League campaign beginning at home to Napoli a few days later, and with their Carabao Cup run kicking off the week afterwards at Millwall.
“We’re just looking to progress on that (injury) front,” Rodgers said after the win over Norwich on Saturday.
“Fitness-wise, if we can have one or two of those back…
“They’re obviously not going to be fully fit because Jonny hasn’t played a game since he came off in the FA Cup final. He’s still working on his fitness.
“Likewise with Jannik, he hasn’t been in that long and hadn’t been back too long before he picked up his injury.
“It’s one of those things that we get on with it and we’re hopeful that as the season goes on, we can get the squad fit and ready because when everybody is available, we have a squad that can make us really competitive. Fingers crossed we get them back.
“We’re really excited, when we come back, by some of the games we have, so we’ll look forward to that when it arrives.”
Ryan Bertrand is a contender to be back in the team for Man City, the leftback missing out with illness at Carrow Road, while Ricardo Pereira says his hamstring injury is “nothing serious”.
City’s full-back ranks could be further strengthened after the October international break when James Justin will be nearing a return following his ACL injury in February.
“We’re looking at some point in October with a bit of luck,” Rodgers said on Justin last week.
“He looks fantastic. He’s worked so well and the medical team and sports science team have been delighted with him.
“As you’d expect, he’s not missed an opportunity to work and get himself back. If we get him back, that will be like a new signing because he’s such a talented player.
“He’s worked tirelessly, I’ve seen him in the gym and he looks very strong, he’s doing a lot of strength work on his leg. That will be a
huge boost.”