Fitness Update: Ricardo, Justin, Castagne, Fofana & Pérez
- Brendan Rodgers provides an injury update ahead of Leicester City's latest UEFA Europa League outing
- The Foxes travel to Sinobo Stadium to face Slavia Prague in the Round of 32 on Thursday
- Ricardo Pereira will be absent for City in the Czech Republic as part of a phased return to action
- Rodgers also elaborates on James Justin, Timothy Castagne, Wesley Fofana and Ayoze Pérez
Portugal international Ricardo initially suffered an ACL injury in March 2020 before a further groin strain delayed his return to first team action for the Foxes over the winter months.
The former FC Porto full-back has starred in City's last four Premier League outings, but as he did against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Emirates FA Cup, the 27-year-old will sit out Thursday's clash at Sinobo Stadium (5:55pm GMT kick-off) in order to ease physical loading.
"Most of the players that are fit will travel," Rodgers confirmed inside the King Power Centre at LCFC Training Ground on Wednesday, ahead of the squad's flight to Prague later in the afternoon.
"Ricardo won’t be involved. Naturally, he’s coming back from a long-term injury, so we have to be protective of him in games and in terms of how often he’s playing, but apart from that, everyone who’s fit will travel.
"After being out for such a long time and working his way back in, you’ve got to be really careful with the loading [Ricardo] has.
"He felt a bit of tightness after the game the other day. He’s coming back from a long injury. As much as we’d love him to play every minute, we have to be conscious of the games and his physical condition.
"He’ll miss this game, but he should be fresh and fine for the game at the weekend."
James Justin, meanwhile, picked up an ACL injury of his own in that FA Cup victory over Brighton and the England Under-21s full-back will undergo an operation to start his recovery later this week.
Rodgers also provided an update on the condition of defenders Timothy Castagne and Wesley Fofana, who are in the process of recuperating from hamstring issues.
Forward Ayoze Pérez, on the other hand, also will not travel and is likely to be out for a number of weeks after picking up a knock against Liverpool.
"James will have an operation on Thursday so he’ll start his recovery process from there," the Northern Irishman explained.
"Timothy is training with the squad and should be okay for the weekend, all being well, and Wesley is still a few weeks away. Ayo [Pérez] will be a couple of weeks, so he’ll be out for the near future."