Brendan Rodgers has revealed Wesley Fofana’s long-awaited comeback has been pushed back due to the defender contracting Covid and Jamie Vardy’s return has been halted by a knee injury in a double blow.
Leicester, who are 12th, have struggled this season without their brilliant young French defender Fofana.
But they have shown how much they rate the starlet, 21, by tying him down this week on a new five-year deal despite Fofana being yet to play this term.
Fofana, signed from St Etienne in October 2020 for £30million, sustained a broken leg in pre-season.
But he returned to training last month and was pushing to play in the Foxes’ Europa Conference League clash at home to Rennes on Thursday.
Boss Rodgers revealed ahead of the French club’s visit that those plans have since been aborted due to Fofana contracting Covid.
The defender is now in line to return at Arsenal instead on Sunday but Leicester will be without 12-goal Vardy due to a knee injury after he was subbed last weekend in the win over Leeds.
Rodgers, whose side has struggled with injuries this term, revealed: “He has picked up Covid which has been our season right the way through with injuries and unfortunate circumstances.
“He is not going to be able to feature tomorrow (Thursday) but we are hoping for the weekend now.
"Vards will be out. He got injured in the last game and will be out for a few weeks which is a shame.
“It is really unfortunate for the two guys and in particular Wesley who has been building up to this moment.
“We just have to cope with the set-backs that come along."
Rodgers hopes Fofana will be back at the week for the trip to the Gunners but is less sure on Vardy's return.
He added: "Hopefully Wesley will be OK for the weekend and with Vards we just keep monitoring that and see how quickly we can get him back.
“The guys in the squad will step in and give their very best.”
Earlier this week Rodgers compared Fofana’s importance at Leicester to Virgil van Dijk’s at Liverpool.
Liverpool relinquished their 2019/2020 Premier League title last term after superb Dutch stopper Van Dijk was out for nine months with an injury.
And Leicester have missed Fofana hugely too.
King Power boss Rodgers assessed: “He is one of the best young players I have ever worked with.
“This is a top player, no question, at a top level.
"I've worked with lots of top talents who have gone on to become top professionals, but I've got absolutely no doubt in this boy.
"When he came out of the team, with all due respect, it was a massive loss for us because of the nature of how I play, defending forward, anticipating, speed, but also mentality.
"The other guys have filled in manfully and done the best they can, but you've seen with the likes of Liverpool when they are missing Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip.
"I watch Wesley out my window virtually every day, doing his recovery and rehabilitation.
“The other day he was doing an individual defending session with Kolo Toure and just seeing his physicality, his anticipation and reading of the game - this is a boy that is top level.
"When we have him back in, then it's another dimension to the team back again and a step back towards where we want to go.”
