Cooper's Ipswich Fitness Update: Fatawu, Kristiansen & Daka

LCFC Men
5 hrs 21 mins ago
2 Minutes
Steve Cooper has confirmed that Abdul Fatawu picked up a groin issue in the week, as Leicester City prepare to take on Ipswich Town on Saturday.

- Steve Cooper has spoken ahead of Leicester City's trip to Ipswich Town
- The Foxes take on the Tractor Boys in the Premier League on Saturday (3pm GMT kick-off)
- Abdul Fatawu missed Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie with a groin issue
- Victor Kristiansen (groin) and Patson Daka (ankle) have trained this week

City return to Premier League duties at Portman Road following Wednesday’s 5-2 defeat at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Fourth Round.

The Foxes sit 15th in the table on nine points from nine games, but will be looking upwards over the coming weeks as Cooper’s men strive to settle back in the top flight.

Fatawu was not selected in the squad to tackle the Red Devils at Old Trafford, as Leicester’s XI included nine changes, and Cooper says his situation is being assessed.

You pick a team that you think is the best fit to deliver a plan to win a game.

Steve Cooper

“We’ve had a really good morning’s work,” the Manager told the media on Thursday. “Through the frustration and annoyance of how the game went, it’s been turned into a positive motivation for the next game and that’s where we’re at.

“You pick a team that you think is the best fit to deliver a plan to win a game. That’s doesn’t necessarily mean the players who played last night won’t play again at the weekend or vice versa. We’ve picked up a couple of knocks in the week.

“Abdul was not available for the game last night through a groin [issue]. We had a few enforced changes last night but just because we went one way last night, it doesn’t mean we won’t go a certain way at the weekend.

“We’re waiting on a scan. Unfortunately, he picked up a little bit of pain in his groin in the build-up to United. It certainly ruled him out of that game. We’ll see what the scan shows. Hopefully it’s positive news. Like with Victor [Kristiansen], when you send players for a scan, you fear the worse and hope for the best.”

Kristiansen (groin) has now trained with the squad after a short absence, while Patson Daka (ankle) is also back with the training group. The Zambia international is yet to appear for the Foxes this term after sustaining his injury in the final week of pre-season. Jannik Vestergaard (ankle), meanwhile, was used from the bench at Man Utd.

“[Kristiansen] trained this morning for the first time,” Cooper added. “Pato (Patson Daka) is back in training as well. We’ve got a young guy, Michael Golding, training with us too. He’s a good young player. He had a spell out but he’s in training. Jannik returned to the pitch last night as well. Apart from Abdul, at the moment, it’s fairly positive.”