Maddison In Contention For Man City Test, Says Rodgers

- Brendan Rodgers provides a squad update ahead of Manchester City on Saturday (5:30pm kick-off)
- James Maddison (hip) will soon be available for selection for the Foxes, the Northern Irishman says
- Harvey Barnes (knee) is progressing well in his recovery at LCFC Training Ground in Seagrave
- Ricardo Pereira, too, is available after a knock before the break, but Cengiz Ünder remains out
- Rodgers also discusses the return of the Club's senior players from international duties

The Foxes welcome Premier League leaders Manchester City to King Power Stadium on Saturday (5:30pm kick-off) after the first international break of 2021 and Rodgers also revealed that all players, so far, have returned in good shape. 

Addressing Maddison's recovery from a hip injury, following an absence which stretches back to 21 February, the Northern Irishman discussed the 24-year-old's efforts to be back in contention. 

"He’s back in training and he will be available for the weekend, so that’s great news for us," Rodgers told the media on Thursday afternoon. "Clearly, he’s not 100 per cent match fit but, in terms of his football fitness, he looks great.

"In the last few weeks, he’s been working with the team, with the players we have available, and he’s stepped that up. He’s not reporting any pain and he looks great. It’s really good news for us, his availability back into the squad again, and hopefully he can stay fit now until the end of the season."

Fellow Three Lions international Harvey Barnes, meanwhile, is making 'good progress' in his rehabilitation from a knee issue, but is still a while away from returning. 

"He’s maybe about three weeks or so post-operation," the 48-year-old added. "He’s still got a way to go. We can’t rush it. Even then, when he does come back, it’s like all injured players, he’s not going to trot back into the level he was at.

"We just want to get him back training. He’s making really good progress, working really hard, and I’m sure, at some point before the end of the season, he’ll play a part."

On Portugal full-back Ricardo Pereira, who picked up a knock last month, Rodgers continued: "He’ll be available as well. Him and James have been on similar programmes this last couple of weeks.

"He’s trained with the group and will be available for the squad. Cengo (Cengiz Ünder) won’t be available for this weekend. "

Fourteen Leicester stars were called up for international duty over the past fortnight and, while some are yet to report back for duty at LCFC Training Ground, their manager says those who are in training are looking fit and ready to resume their domestic duties.

"Thankfully, it’s all gone very well, so I’m just delighted to have the squad back again," he explained. "We’ll assess that over the next 24 hours. They’re virtually, some of them, just getting back in. We’ve still got a few players who aren’t back as of yet, they won’t be back until tomorrow.

"You’re limited in terms of the work you can do preparing for the game. Tomorrow is the first day when they’re all back and we’ll get ready for the game at the weekend."

All times BST.