Ricardo & Ünder Could Feature Soon, Says Rodgers

- Ricardo Pereira (groin) and Cengiz Ünder (hamstring) have made progress in their recoveries, says manager Brendan Rodgers
- Both could be in contention to feature in some way against Southampton on Saturday night
- Jamie Vardy (hip) and James Maddison (knee) are back in contention to feature also
- Dennis Praet may be absent for up to three months with a hamstring-tendon issue 

Ünder has been absent for the Foxes since 16 December with a hamstring injury, while Ricardo's recovery from an ACL issue was delayed further by a groin complaint at the end of 2020.

However, while Rodgers insists neither will be rushed back, both are in his thoughts with Ralph Hasenhüttl's Saints due to visit the East Midlands in an 8pm GMT kick-off on Saturday evening.

"Cengo (Ünder) should be back with us this weekend, which is great news," the Northern Irishman told the national media, over Zoom, in the King Power Centre at Seagrave on Thursday.

"Ricky Pereira, also, so that’s great for us. Probably a bit like Çağs (Çağlar Söyüncü), we just need to get him back step by step. He’s training with the team now and looking very good.

"We don’t need to rush it. He’s working hard with the medical team. He’s gone through all the tests and all the measures. He’s been out and trained with the squad for a little while.

"It’s just about, step by step, giving him some game time and getting him back on the field, but there’s no big rush with him."

As expected, English duo Jamie Vardy (hip) and James Maddison (knee), who missed Saturday's 4-0 Emirates FA Cup victory at Stoke City, are also back in contention for the Southampton clash.

"Both those players are available," Rodgers confirmed. "It wasn’t so much a rest. They couldn’t play, or if they did play, there was going to be a huge risk for them.

"They’ve had ongoing issues throughout the season unfortunately and that was a game where we saw a window to get some medical work done with them knowing we’ve got other players who can play.

"That’s worked well for us. They’ve re-joined the group so they’ll be available this weekend."

One player who is likely to be absent for some time, though, is Belgium international Dennis Praet, who was substituted late on in Staffordshire last weekend.

"Dennis will be [out for] up to three months we think, which is a huge blow for us," the 47-year-old explained. "It was an awkward one for him at the time. The ball just popped up and he overstretched. It was a tendon in the hamstring.

"We obviously now need to make sure his recuperation is as best as can be. He’ll be out for a while which is not so good for us."