Leicester injury news: Ricardo Pereira and Caglar Soyuncu
By Will Kennedy
As the World Cup rages on, Leicester City’s squad travelled to Abu Dhabi for their mid-season warm weather training camp. The squad, filled with a mix of youth and first teamers, was overseen by Brendan Rodgers as he plans for the resumption of the 2022-23 club season.
Following the conclusion of the camp, Rodgers updated the media on the fitness within his squad, as well as giving the latest on long-term absentee Ricardo Pereira. The gaffer gave a positive assessment of the Portuguese’s progress, noting that he is ‘quite a way down his path’ of recovery.
Ricardo has missed the entirety of the season with a serious Achilles injury suffered in the pre-season victory over Sevilla. The seven-time Portugal international travelled with the squad to Abu Dhabi, but was seen only doing individual training, not quite ready for an integration back into team sessions.
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Now 29, his Achilles is one of three major setbacks the defender has suffered in the last three years, meaning he has only played in 29 of Leicester’s last 100 games. Cruelly, the timing of his injuries has seen him miss both the Euros and the World Cup. By the time Euro 2024 comes around, he will be approaching 31 and will be hoping to have had a good run of games to return to the international stage.
Still, his focus will now be on getting himself fit for the remainder of the season. Whilst the games in December will come too soon for him, we should see his comeback in the new year.
One notable face who wasn’t at the camp was Turkish defender Caglar Soyuncu. Currently at home injured, the 26-year-old hasn’t been trusted by Rodgers this season and has only started two games in all competitions. Once a frequent starter, Soyuncu is now, at best, fourth choice at centre back, behind Wout Faes, Jonny Evans, and an out-of-position Wilfred Ndidi.
Cags’ fall from grace has meant he has been on the verge of an exit from the King Power for a few years but, as exclusively reported by Foxes of Leicester, Soyuncu will finally depart LCFC this season – whether that be in the winter window, or upon the expiry of his contract in June.
There was one other injury to report from the training camp, young prospect Lewis Brunt has encountered ‘physical issues’ according to Rodgers, and is fighting to be fit again ahead of the resumption of the season. Formerly a Aston Villa youth player, Brunt has made two senior appearances for Leicester City in the base of midfield. Brunt will be hoping to gain fitness in time for the upcoming Carabao Cup tie at MK Dons.
Meanwhile, both James Justin and Ryan Bertrand continue to be long-term absentees. Justin’s recent Achilles injury will see him miss all-but the remainder of the season, whilst Bertrand’s knee issue continues to keep him out of the side with no expected return date.
As for their World Cup players, James Maddison has recovered from the injury that kept him out of England’s opening two group games. Maddison is Leicester’s only player left in the World Cup, but his chances of appearing in the tournament, let alone starting a game, are increasingly slim as the competition goes on.
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Other than him, no other Leicester players have faced injury setbacks in the competition and will come back to Seagrave aiming to help the Foxes further climb the table and keep their previous momentum going. LCFC return to action on December 20th for the next round of the aforementioned Carabao Cup, and then host Newcastle for the restoration of the Premier League on Boxing Day.