The Leicester injury woes have begun, and it’s not even the start of the new Premier League season. The Foxes have been dealt a significant blow with the news that striker Patson Daka will be out for “a few months” due to an ankle injury. The 25-year-old Zambia international underwent surgery after suffering the injury in Leicester’s final pre-season game against Lens last Saturday. This is a massive setback for the team, especially considering Daka’s impressive record since joining the club from RB Salzburg in 2021, making 96 appearances in all competitions.
Leicester City’s Injury Crisis Deepens
The news of Daka’s injury has sent shockwaves through the Leicester City camp, and new manager Steve Cooper is already facing a selection headache ahead of the team’s opening game against Tottenham on Monday. Cooper, who replaced Enzo Maresca as Leicester manager in June, revealed that experienced duo Jamie Vardy and Conor Coady would also be missing from the squad due to injuries. Vardy has been injured since the second week of pre-season, while Coady is nursing a hamstring injury that will keep him out for a few more weeks.
“Patson is not great,” Cooper said in a recent press conference. “He’s had an operation and will be out for a few months. Vards has been injured since the second week of pre-season, he’s closer to returning but will be a little while. Conor Coady will be out for a few more weeks with his hamstring.”
Impact on Leicester City’s Season
The loss of Daka, Vardy, and Coady is a significant blow to Leicester City’s chances of making a strong start to the season. The team is already facing the threat of a possible points deduction for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules from when they were last in the top flight. The Foxes will need to dig deep and find a way to overcome these injuries if they want to avoid a relegation battle.
Cooper, however, remains positive and is focusing on the players he has available. “Every season you want to reinforce, you want to strengthen,” he said. “We’re still going through that process. The club is working together, and the communication lines are great. It’s been a slow market. Once I knew this week that there wouldn’t be any additions for Monday, I put that to one side and focused on Monday. That’s the only thing we can influence.”
Steve Cooper’s Plans for the Season
Despite the injury setbacks, Cooper is optimistic about the team’s chances this season. He believes that the squad has a good balance of youth and experience and is confident that they can make a strong impression in the Premier League. “We’re still going through the process of reinforcing the squad,” he said. “We’re working together as a club, and the communication lines are great. We’ll see what the future holds, but for now, we’re focusing on Monday’s game against Tottenham.”
Building a Strong Team
Cooper’s priority is to build a strong team that can compete with the best in the Premier League. He knows that it won’t be easy, but he’s confident that the squad has the potential to achieve great things. “We’re still learning about each other,” he said. “We’re still finding out what makes us tick, what makes us work well together. But I’m excited about the prospects. I think we’ve got a good group of players, and I think we can achieve some great things this season.”
Transfer Market Activity
Cooper has ruled out any new signings before the team’s opening game against Tottenham on Monday. However, he hasn’t closed the door on future transfers. “We’re still going through the process of reinforcing the squad,” he said. “We’re working together as a club, and the communication lines are great. We’ll see what the future holds, but for now, we’re focusing on Monday’s game against Tottenham.”
Leicester City’s Premier League Return
Leicester City’s return to the Premier League is highly anticipated, and the team is eager to make a strong impression. Despite the injury setbacks, Cooper is confident that the squad has what it takes to compete with the best in the league. “We’re excited about the prospects,” he said. “We think we’ve got a good group of players, and we think we can achieve some great things this season.”
The Foxes will face a tough test in their opening game against Tottenham on Monday, but Cooper is confident that the team can rise to the challenge. “We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “We’re excited about the game, and we’re confident that we can get a good result.”