Leicester City injury update as Enzo Maresca rules two more players out

Enzo Maresca will be without centre half Jannik Vestergaard and winger Marc Albrighton when Leicester City take on Watford on Saturday. Defender Vestergaard, who has seized his fresh opportunity at the King Power Stadium under Maresca this term, was forced off at half time in the 5-0 win over Stoke City last Saturday and was replaced with young Ben Nelson.

The hamstring issue isn’t considered by Maresca to be too serious, and in fact he’s hopeful that he might regain the Dane’s services at some stage for their home double header next week, when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday and then Middlesbrough. In the meantime, it offers an opportunity for Nelson, Conor Coady or the returning Harry Souttar to lay down a marker.

“He’s not available,” Maresca replied, when asked of Vestergaard’s chances. “Jannik, fortunately, it looks quite good in terms of it won’t be long. We’ll see for the next games, whether he is available for Tuesday’s game or Saturday’s game. The important thing is, with this kind of injury, it’s normally three or four weeks but it wasn’t an important one. Hopefully we can have him back on Tuesday or Saturday. It was his hamstring.”

It’s a similar situation for the experienced Albrighton, who has featured in ten league games under Maresca this season but who is yet to start in that time other than in cup competitions; he’s likely to return before long, too: “It’s short-term for Marc, it’s muscular – it’s the same, but he’s not available for tomorrow.”