Foxes Fitness News Ahead Of Arsenal Women Clash

- Manager Lydia Bedford speaks to the media in her pre-Arsenal press conference
- City’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League campaign continues on Filbert Way
- She provided updates on Ashleigh Plumptre, Molly Pike and Abbie McManus
- All three look set to miss Sunday’s game against the Gunners (12:30pm kick-off)

The Foxes’ debut season in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League continues against the title-chasing north Londoners, who will arrive on Filbert Way with ambitions of reclaiming top spot in the division.

For Leicester, a bruising 9-0 defeat at home to Chelsea last weekend was worsened by injuries to two of the starting XI, losing stand-in captain Ashleigh Plumptre after she collided with the post and then being forced into a second change when midfielder Molly Pike was unable to continue.

Speaking in her pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, the manager revealed that both remain out of contention as things stand, while another centre-back looks set to miss the weekend’s fixture. Abbie McManus has not trained since picking up the injury that saw her sit out the Chelsea reverse.

“Injury wise, we are still struggling a little bit from the weekend,” Bedford revealed to the media. “Obviously we had Ash [Plumptre] and Molly [Pike] come off the pitch during the game due to various injuries and at this stage neither have returned back to training.

“There’s similar news on Abbie McManus as last weekend as well. She’s still out and being assessed and hopefully on her way back - but not ready for this weekend.”

The trio of absentees, adding to a long-term injury list, is set to present other members of the squad with chances to showcase their talents from the off against the Gunners.

The ex-England youth coach added: “I think there’s some elements that we’ve changed based on personnel availability for this weekend.

“We’ve got two or three players that might normally feature in a starting XI unavailable, so I think that provides opportunity for us to rotate and see where the rest of the group are at.”

All times BST.