Maresca: McAteer Out For Four To Six Weeks

- Leicester City host Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday
- That clash between two early pacesetters is to be broadcast live in the UK and globally on Foxes Hub
- Kasey McAteer is expected to be out for between four and six weeks
- The youngster was injured during in Sunday's win at Blackburn Rovers

The Academy graduate pulled up during Sunday's 4-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers after scoring five goals over the opening weeks of the season. City welcome Preston North End to King Power Stadium on Wednesday (7:45pm BST kick-off).

McAteer, 21, will definitely miss that clash with Ryan Lowe's high-flying Lancashire outfit, and remain out for some time afterwards. There was better news elsewhere, however, with Maresca confirming there are no new injuries.

"It will be between four and six weeks," Maresca told reporters at Seagrave on Tuesday, concerning McAteer's injury.

"We still have more games to play but [the fixture schedule] is what it is. It’s the same situation for all the clubs. It’s not easy to find a solution because the schedule is what it is.

"We can try to adapt and make a rotation, but you need to balance whether you lose quality and take no injuries, or have more quality and risk some injuries."

The Italian also paid tribute to McAteer's early-season form, before saying the youngster can use this time out to recover from the rigours of the Championship campaign so far. 

"We are unhappy because he was doing very well," he said. "He is a great guy, he's happy and hungry so it’s a shame. It's just for six weeks. It’s probably a good time for him to have some rest, but it will be good to have him back."

Dennis Praet, meanwhile, remains out of contention, but could return to some form of work in around a month.

"I don’t know exactly," Maresca added. "For sure, in four weeks, he can start to move."