Leicester injuries after international blow: Buonanotte, Kristiansen, Daka

The King Power side are not in the worst position they could be at this point in the season, but with their best set of games for results underway, they could do with fewer absences. Unfortunately, the Foxes will have to make do with a few players being out.

Leicester City Injury & Absence Update

Before Leicester's face-off with fellow promoted rivals Southampton, Steve Cooper already knows he shall be without three squad players. Jakub Stolarczyk, Patson Daka, and Hamza Choudhury will definitively be absent from the tie.

The Polish goalkeeper and Zambian forward are both long-term absentees due to injury, while the academy graduate midfielder is a recent addition to that list due to a shoulder problem from training. Luckily, none of the three would have been in the Premier League starting XI, although Daka and Choudhury would be great substitutes depending on game circumstances or to rest players such as Jamie Vardy.

Nevertheless, the international break has brought both a boon and a blow. The bad news first: Facundo Buonanotte - the Argentinian midfielder who has impressed greatly for the Foxes - will be returning from duty later than his teammates. Concerningly, this could mean only one day of rest or training for the playmaker. Cooper's team has used the player on the right or the centre, so the versatile player will hopefully be fit enough for the XI against the Saints.

Meanwhile, starting left-back Victor Kristiansen was booked in Denmark's recent tie. As this means the player is suspended, the Danish have decided to send Kristiansen home. For Leicester City, the benefit will be extra rest for a crucial talent ahead of an equally important fixture. The Foxes should have no defender missing from action.

The injury and absence update will mean little to Steve Cooper. The Welshman is likely to select the same starting XI as against Bournemouth, although the fitness of Buonanotte could be the only caveat to that expectation. Should Bounanotte be absent, Cooper will probably play Bobby De-Cordova Reid on the left and move Stephy Mavididi to the right instead of bringing in either Abdul Fatawu or Kasey McAteer.