- Brendan Rodgers felt Leicester City put in ‘plenty of effort’ against Sheffield Wednesday
- City drew 0-0 with the Owls in a pre-season friendly at Loughborough University Stadium
- Rodgers discussed the fitness of skipper Wes Morgan after he came off in the first half
A second outing of the Foxes’ pre-season schedule saw them held 0-0 by the Owls, despite going close in both halves via the returning Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
For Rodgers, though, the encounter provided his side with an opportunity to face a quality opponent at Loughborough University Stadium.
“I think the quality improves as this pre-season continues, but [it was a] good exercise physically and [we were able] to get 90 minutes into some players and obviously more game time and other game time into others, and also it's nice to get a look at the young players as well,” Rodgers said. “So, overall a good exercise.
“We had a number of really good moments where we just didn't make the last pass or make the right decision to score, but showed some good moments and build-up to arrive there. Like you say, they had one or two chances as well. But no, not a great game for quality, but plenty of effort.”
A number of Foxes will now link up with their nations for a short international break before returning to the Football Club ahead of City’s Premier League opener at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday 13 September.
Rodgers continued: “Well, we still have a long way to go and I think because of the nature of the season, when it's going to start, the players will still be searching for [full fitness], but we've still got a couple of weeks to go and unfortunately now, we lose a number of players away to international duty.
“But hopefully they can be safe and get some fitness while they're away. The others will stay at home and work. We'll get them up to as high a level as we can, but there's still a way to go in terms of the physicality of the team.”
The City manager also provided an update on the fitness of captain Wes Morgan, who had to come off on the half-hour mark in Loughborough.
“He just felt at the top of his hamstring a tightness,” confirmed Rodgers. “So [we'll] get a scan on that and hopefully, all being well, he'll be okay.”