Foster: Nevin, O’Brien & Draper Remain Out For Villa Clash

- LCFC Women face Aston Villa away on Saturday afternoon (12:30pm kick-off)
- Shannon O’Brien and Denny Draper remain out of contention for the trip
- Defender Courtney Nevin picked up an injury and will also miss out again
- Janina Leitzig is ‘progressing well’ having missed the defeat to Brighton

The Foxes head across the Midlands for Saturday’s Barclays Women’s Super League clash against the Villans in Walsall, a 12:30pm kick-off at Poundland Bescot Stadium.

Prior to the encounter, a final fixture before the international window, the Assistant Manager shared the latest on four players in Thursday’s pre-match press conference at Belvoir Drive.

A swollen ankle has kept O’Brien out of contention since returning from England Under-23s duty last month and although progress has been made in her recovery, this game comes too soon for the attacker.

“She’s progressing well,” Foster commented. “She won’t be available for this weekend. Hopefully we can get her closer over the international break and be pushing to get her in as soon as possible after the internationals.”

Australian international Nevin is also unavailable through injury and Leicester will travel to Villa without the full-back. There is optimism of a potential return for City’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup Semi-Final against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 14 April, but nothing is guaranteed.

Young forward Draper missed the narrow defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last Sunday too and will continue to be on the sidelines following her injury on England youth duty.

Foster explained: “Courtney Nevin unfortunately picked up an injury late last week so she will be out for the coming weeks. We don’t know a complete deadline on that, I can’t give anything, but it will be the next few weeks.

“There’s always hope (for the semi-final). If she’s available for that then brilliant. Our medical team are great and they’ll do everything they can to get her ready as soon as possible, but when it’s the right time.

“Denny Draper is the other one who picked up an injury away on international duty, so she definitely won’t be available for the next few weeks and the next month at least.”

Janina Leitzig was absent from the squad against the Seagulls due to an ongoing injury and although the ‘keeper could be back this weekend, there could be an opportunity for young shot-stopper Rebecca Dowsett to be involved again.  

“She’s doing well,” Foster added on Leitzig. “Rebecca was back from England Under-17s international duty so we were able to get her on the bench which was great because Jani needed a little bit more time to get 100 per cent. She needed it (the rest).

“She’s been really good in training and she’s an England international at the end of the day, even at a younger age group. It’s a great experience for us to give her and she deserved it from what we’ve seen.”

All times GMT.