MX23RW : Monday, July 1 05:36:23| >> :120:27476:27476:

Brendan Rodgers: 'Wilfred Ndidi will not be rushed back from injury'

Brendan Rodgers: 'Wilfred Ndidi will not be rushed back from injury'
© Reuters
The midfielder has missed the last two matches with a knee problem.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has refused to put a time limit on key man Wilfred Ndidi's recovery from injury.

Ndidi will play no part against Manchester City at the King Power Stadium in Saturday's evening kick-off after missing the Foxes' last two matches.

The Nigeria midfielder has felt discomfort in the same knee which required surgery in early January and Rodgers will not be rushing him back.

"He's still in a process to try and get fit, so we'll see how he is next week," Rodgers said.

"I'm not sure. There's no timeline on it, we just have to see how he progresses.

"He's virtually weight-bearing and he's doing his work inside, and then you have to progress that to going outside and then it's when can he join the team.

"There's a different intensity when training with the team and then of course there's another intensity to play. So we just want to make sure he's absolutely right. He's such an important player for us, but it's his well-being as well.

"We want to ensure, not just the short-term but the long-term as well, that he's right and can come back into the team with no recurrence."

Rodgers will also be without fellow midfielders Hamza Choudhury, suspended after two yellow cards in last week's goalless draw at Wolves, and Papy Mendy (knee).

The trio's defensive leg work will be sorely missed given Rodgers' assertion that a lack of aggression without the ball cost his side in a 3-1 defeat to City at the Etihad Stadium in December.

"Three excellent players and obviously we have to find a strategy and a plan to come up with a game that can see us try and get the three points," Rodgers said.

Jamie Vardy gave Leicester a first-half lead against City at the Etihad, but Rodgers said they lacked the intensity out of possession to trouble Pep Guardiola's players.

"We were too passive in the game, I think that was pretty clear," Rodgers added.

"We got a great start in the game, but we didn't press the game hard enough and well enough at times.

"Manchester City are a fantastic team that force you back into a defensive shape, but they have to feel your shirt, they have to feel the aggression of the team.

"That's something we spoke about after that game and then, once you have the ball, you have to have that ability to play quickly."

City's 2-0 win against West Ham on Wednesday night lifted them four points clear of third-placed Leicester, who have taken only five points from the last 15 available.

Defender Ryan Bennett is hoping to feature for Leicester for the first time since arriving on loan from Wolves and Matty James is also in contention following a long-term Achilles injury.

ID:390387: cacheID:390387:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4475:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring their first goal on January 1, 2020
Read Next:
FPL tips: Harvey Barnes storming onto managers' radars
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Monday, July 1
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 2
 
8pm
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Saturday, July 6
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!