Interim LCFC manager Andy King faces a mounting selection headache as Leicester City prepare for their weekend trip to Birmingham City. The Foxes medical department are inundated with issues at present. The most significant recent blow involves vice-captain Hamza Choudhury; ordinarily the Bangladesh international's absence wouldn't be too impactful.
Yet he is needed right now so being ruled out for the remainder of February is a blow. The midfielder was forced off during last Saturday's bruising defeat to Charlton Athletic and was subsequently seen leaving King Power Stadium on crutches. King confirmed that the full timeframe remains uncertain. Though the hybrid defender/midfielder is definitely unavailable for the immediate fixture list.
Choudhury's absence deepens a crisis in the centre of the park, where Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey are already sidelined with hamstring issues that will likely keep them out until March. However, there is a glimmer of positive news for the travelling Blue Army.
The revitalised Oliver Skipp is set to return to the matchday squad after completing concussion protocols. His presence will be vital for a midfield unit that has been stretched to its breaking point.
Further Leicester City problems
The defensive line is equally precarious. With Wout Faes recently departed on loan and Caleb Okoli serving a suspension, King is sweating on the fitness of Jannik Vestergaard. The Danish international is 'being managed on a day-to-day basis' and remains a major doubt. This leaves Ben Nelson and newly-signed Jamaal Lascelles to anchor the defence.
"We’ll see,” King explained. “He (Vestergaard) is trying to manage it."lcfc.com
Leicester’s frantic deadline-day activity saw Lascelles, Joe Aribo, Divine Mukasa and Dujuan Richards arrive to bolster a squad depleted by seven potential absentees. The sheer scale of the injury list means several of the quartet are expected to make their debuts at St. Andrew's this Saturday. In spite of the temporary head coach's reluctance to throw the new men straight in at the deep end.
"They have got to come in and be ready,"Andy King