Leicester City are set to be without five players when they head to Manchester United for their Carabao Cup fourth-round tie on Wednesday evening (7.45pm kick-off).
Left-back Victor Kristiansen is the latest City squad member to be forced onto the sidelines after the Dane picked up a groin injury in training last week, causing him to miss Friday night’s 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest. With manager Steve Cooper saying the extent of the injury is so far “inconclusive”, it would be unlikely that Kristiansen recovers in time for the trip to Old Trafford.
In any case, the 21-year-old would unlikely be rushed back for a cup tie in which a host of changes are expected to be made. Luke Thomas has started in each of the previous two rounds and is likely to get the nod at left-back again.
Elsewhere, Jannik Vestergaard had still not returned to training by the end of last week as he nurses an ankle problem. Should he begin training this week, the trip to Old Trafford may still come too soon for the centre-back.
City’s long-term absentees Jakub Stolarczyk (foot) and Patson Daka (ankle) are out on the grass but are still in recovery from their summer surgeries, so won’t be available. Hamza Choudhury dislocated his shoulder earlier this month and while he does not need to have surgery, he’s not thought to be in contention again yet.
Although there are five players out, City still have a big enough squad for significant rotation, should Cooper want to rest certain players ahead of the weekend’s big Premier League relegation clash with Ipswich. It’s only at full-back and centre-back where one of Friday’s starters may have to feature again.
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