Leicester City’s World Cup stars are back!

Many of the Leicester City heroes from the World Cup have returned.

We are halfway through an incredibly busy summer. A long, hot summer. Leicester City proudly welcome back their stars from World Cup Russia 2018. They need them in what is likely a tough Premier League campaign ahead. So much talent bulges from the premiership. In addition, completion of many impressive transfers took place throughout the break.

All in all nine players are training again. Although some not with their teammates. Kasper Schmeichel, Yohan Benalouane, Adrien Silva, Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ricardo Pereira. Harry Maguire is on holiday in Barbados, but running again. Jamie Vardy should be ready to reunite with the squad on return to England.

But the Denmark No.1 did not feature versus Udinese, in Saturday’s friendly match. Schmeichel met up with the squad in Austria. With Shinji Okazaki expected back to duties next week.

Silva started for Leicester City. Joined by Pereira, Iheanacho, Musa, Ndidi and Benalouane on the substitute’s bench. The match took place in Christian Fuchs’ homeland, Austria. Claude Puel‘s team have a training base there this summer once more. City fans will remember the infamous bicycle rides ever year at the location.

Change that red heart to a blue one please, H.

New boy Pereira

Leicestershire Live were lucky enough to interview new signing Pereira this week. They describe him as too polite to shake hands after a sweaty training session:

"“He was a friendly guy, with excellent English. “A nice boy”, as your mum might say. We spoke about his move to Leicester, his ambitions, playing under Claude Puel at Nice, his hobbies and what it’s like to play as yourself on FIFA. Also about the World Cup and what Cristiano Ronaldo is really like. Apparently, he’s not a complete turnip.” – James Sharpe (Via: Leicestershire Live)"

In a midfield role as a second-half substitute, Pereira almost scored and assisted the robust Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal. Very promising indeed for my proposed 3-4-3 formation! However the Foxes were defeated 2-1, lcfc.com has the details.

Performances at World Cup

Football sort of came home for English World Cup semi-finalists Vardy and Maguire. Musa, Iheanacho and Ndidi’s Nigeria failed to emerge from their group. Danish Schmeichel lost to Croatia on penalties after qualifying for the latter stages with eventual winners France.

Portugal’s Silva and Pereira were eliminated in the initial knockout round. Okazaki and Japan went home following Round of 16 defeat too. And Benalouane’s Tunisia did not progress from England’s Group G.

Leicester City’s executives will attempt to ensure their World Cup players remain Foxes this season – offering contract improvements to some, including Maguire. This will attempt to stop Manchester United’s interest, per Telegraph.