Injured Youri a major doubt for the league restart
‘BIT OF A WORRY’ AS STAR PULLS OUT OF BELGIUM SQUAD
YOURI Tielemans is a major doubt for Leicester City’s Premier League clash with Chelsea after pulling out of the Belgium squad with injury.
Tielemans limped off during City’s 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday, the playmaker replaced by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with 15 minutes to go after receiving treatment on the field.
Manager Brendan Rodgers said after the match the issue was a “little bit of a worry” and that Tielemans would need a scan on his calf.
Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws have now reported that the results of those scans will see Tielemans withdraw from the Belgium squad and sit out for two to three weeks.
That would put him in serious danger of missing City’s game against league leaders Chelsea, who come to the King Power Stadium in the first match after the international break, as well as the following game, a crucial Europa League tie against Legia Warsaw.
The report adds that the injury is in the calf and ankle area, and that the midfielder will stay at City for further examinations.
Had he not been injured, Tielemans would likely have played in Belgium’s fixtures against Estonia and Wales over the next week, with Roberto Martinez’s side looking to wrap up qualification for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Tielemans’ City team-mate Timothy Castagne is in the squad, alongside Dennis Praet, currently on loan at Torino.
If Tielemans misses the Chelsea game, it will end the longest current appearance streak for a Premier League outfield player, with the 24-year-old having played every single league fixture since New Year’s Day 2020, a run of 67 matches.
He took over the title from Southampton and England midfielder James Ward-Prowse last month.