Jannik Vestergaard “feels better than ever” as he prepares to fight for his place in the Leicester City line-up this weekend.
The Danish centre-back was dropped to the bench for the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last time out, with manager Steve Cooper handing a Premier League debut to £15m summer signing Caleb Okoli. It was the first time since the start of last season that Vestergaard has been available for a league game and not been in the 11.
Cooper explained his choice as needing “different attributes” to face certain opponents, perhaps indicating a preference for a quicker centre-back to battle with Villa striker Ollie Watkins. Vestergaard has responded with two clean sheets for Denmark, with his performances in the 2-0 victories over Switzerland and Serbia earning rave reviews from the media in his home nation.
Asked about his absence from the City line-up as he prepares to return to Seagrave and work towards this Saturday’s fixture at Selhurst Park, Vestergaard told Danish media he was in great shape and ready to play. He said: “It is a completely natural thing that there is competition for the places and that the coach has a choice to make. I was available and I am available. I am both when I start and when I am on the bench.
“But I’m in good shape. I actually feel better than ever before. I don’t have an answer to your question in relation to the explanation, but I am available.”
The battle for a starting centre-back spot at City is more competitive than ever, especially with Conor Coady now fully fit. He will be pushing to be involved in a Premier League squad for the first time this weekend after missing the opening few weeks with a hamstring issue. Coady has been the only central defender at Seagrave over the past week, with Okoli on Italy duty and Wout Faes playing for Belgium.
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