Leicester City head coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy has ruled out Nigerian midfielder Wilfried Ndidi, out of the Foxes FA cup third round fixture against Queen Park Rangers on Saturday, stating that the midfielder is close to being back in action from injury.
The Nigerian international has been sidelined since suffering an injury in the 2-2 home draw against Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League, in early December and has missed the Foxes last five games.
His absence from the team has been a major blow, as they have lost all five matches in his absence and have dropped to 19th on the table, two points from safety.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s game against the championship side, Van Nistelrooy admitted that the 28-year old will not be risked for the game, but is however close to a return to full action.
“He’s continuing his individual training. He’s not yet with the team. He’s pushing harder on an individual basis. Hopefully we can welcome him to team training over coming weeks”, he said.
The former PSV Eindhoven manager also provided team news and injury update on other key players ahead of the must-win encounter.
“There’s no new injuries. Kasey McAteer is back in full team training and if he can continue that today and tomorrow, he could be available for the game.
Jannik has been assessed and he’s made his steps after he had to come off. We’re looking to get him on the pitch today or tomorrow and get him ready for QPR, but it’s doubtful”, he concluded.
The Foxes will hope to have Ndidi back in time when the Premier League returns next Wednesday, as they face Crystal Palace at the Kings Power Stadium.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
