Leicester and Southampton injury latest ahead of Premier League clash

Jannik Vestergaard, who could return to Premier League action in Leicesters game at his old club Southampton after a seven-week injury lay-off (Image: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)

Jannik Vestergaard could return to Premier League action in Leicester's game at his old club Southampton after a seven-week injury lay-off.

The Denmark defender played the full 90 minutes in both of his country's recent Nations League matches after recovering from an ankle problem.

Leicester boss Steve Cooper, who gave little away as his side bid for back-to-back league wins, said: "Jannik Vestergaard has played a couple of games for the national team."

"He was just about getting fit before the Bournemouth game, so he's obviously in a much better place in terms of his fitness and his recovery from his ankle injury."

Vestergaard missed only four of Leicester's Championship matches last season, but has featured just twice since playing a key role in their promotion back to the top flight.

There was also encouraging news on the return to fitness of midfielder Hamza Choudhury and Zambia striker Patson Daka.

Choudhury missed the home victory against Bournemouth before the international break Leicester's first league win of the season after dislocating a shoulder in training, but has not needed surgery.

const loadOvpScript=()=>{let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=114291&vp_content=plembed3e7arguyxmsj&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v114291');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)};window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v114291"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript();ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript();ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})

"It's still going to take a bit of time because it was a dislocation," Cooper said.

"As Hamza does, he's attacking the injury in a positive way, in a ruthless manner of getting back as soon as possible. He'll be back with us but we're not sure quite when yet."

Daka, a £23million signing from Salzburg in 2021, has yet to appear for the Foxes this season after sustaining an ankle injury during the summer break that required surgery.

Cooper added: "It was quite a serious injury and an operation that he had to have."

Trending window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20241015.min.js" SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

"It was such unfortunate timing as well, the week before the season was due to start. But he's coming into the final stages of rehab."

"You'll see him on the grass now a little bit but he's very much still with the medical team and building his way towards being with us. His rehab is on course and going to plan."

Leicester's win against Bournemouth was their first in seven league games this season and lifted them three points above the relegation zone and into 15th place.