Rodgers Delivers Positive Ndidi Fitness Update

First Team
21 Jan 2020
2 Minutes
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers says there’s a ‘great chance’ midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will be included in the matchday squad for Wednesday’s Premier League clash with West Ham United at King Power Stadium.

- Wilfred Ndidi could be available for selection for Leicester City’s Premier League match against West Ham United, says Brendan Rodgers
- The City No.25 has made a swift recovery after having an operation on his knee
- Rodgers insists he will not rush the midfielder’s return to action

Ndidi has not featured since the 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic after needing an operation on his knee, but could be involved much sooner than anticipated.

He could feature as early as City’s midweek fixture against the Hammers, according to Rodgers, but the Northern Irishman will not rush the Nigeria international’s return to action.

“Yes, there’s a great chance he’ll be in the squad for tomorrow,” Rodgers told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “We’ll see how he is from today.

“He’s made an incredible recovery. I think that’s the thing with the type of operation he had, people will recover in different timescales. For Wilf it was 11 days.

Wilfred Ndidi last featured for the Foxes against Wigan Athletic in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round on 4 January.

“He’s been out on the pitch, he’s had all the tests. It’s a great testament to him and our medical team, the work that’s gone in to getting him fit. He’s available, we think.

“We’ll give it another period of time just to make sure that he feels good and feels right in himself. He wasn’t one that we wanted to rush, but over the course of the last number of days he’s been fantastic.

“He’s been in duels, he’s had the test and if there was going to be any effects, it would have taken place over the last few days. He’s come through it really well.”

He allows to defend and to defend forward. He covers a lot of space for our attacking players and there’s not too many players better than him who do that job.

Brendan Rodgers

When asked about Ndidi’s qualities, Rodgers described him as ‘phenomenal’, and knows it will be a ‘huge boost’ for his side this week.

“He’s a real colossal player for us,” he added. “He allows to defend and to defend forward. He covers a lot of space for our attacking players and there’s not too many players better than him who do that job.

“He’s a phenomenal player. To have him back early is a huge boost for us. He has been a miss, no doubt.”