Which Leicester loanees should he recalled to ease crisis?

Leicester City is in a heap with injuries, COVID outbreaks, and others leaving for AFCON. Here are the on-loan players Brendan Rodgers could recall.

The King Power side may be struggling with a decimated squad, but there are plenty of options since January has come around. We could see Leicester purchase centre-backs, loan in midfielders, and even recall loan players.

However, the number of loan players to choose from is not a spectacular pool. There are Daniel Iversen, Dennis Praet, Khanya Leshabela, Tyrese Shade, Sam Hughes, Callum Wright, and George Hirst.

Leicester City’s English striker

With Jamie Vardy injured for a month, and the possibility of not returning to immediate fitness, with Kelechi Iheanacho out on international duty, and Patson Daka not quite fit, a solution is needed up front.

The most likely scenario is the use of either Ayoze Perez or Harvey Barnes up front until Daka is fit. Then it is Daka all the way. Nevertheless, there is room for a striker while we wait. This is where George Hirst fits in.

The English striker has been playing for Portsmouth and racked up quite an impressive run of form. This is not to say he has been prolific in front of net, quite the opposite really, but that is part of the parcel when playing for a less creative and more defensive side.

The player has performed well enough that in a crisis he could be called upon to do a job for a short while, before being shipped back out on loan to make space for the returning Vardy and Iheanacho.

The South African Fox

One thing the Foxes lack enough of is depth in creativity. Beyond using an out of favour Ayo or out of position Ademola Lookman, Rodgers has little options to call upon should James Maddison be injured – of course depending upon the formation.

One option is just to not have an out and out attacking midfielder, relying on the creativity and ingenuity of both Youri Tielemans and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to create opportunities for either Daka or someone else.

The other is to recall Leshabela; he plays on the wings or in midfield, providing an immense amount of versatility to call upon. The South African has been on loan at Shrewsbury Town, but has not held a consistent starting spot.

The attacking midfielder could provide much needed depth which the King Power outfit currently lack in that versatile department. That being said, the player needs more game time for their career, so it might be detrimental to his development to recall him at this stage.

One thing I can say for certain is that recalling Iversen is out of the question. Kasper Schmeichel has been brilliant this season – despite being below his usual standards in tamer matches – and Danny Ward provides all the cover the Foxes need.