Leicester City’s Injury Update and Selection Dilemma for Van Nistelrooy
Leicester City are enjoying their healthiest squad of the season, with only one player currently sidelined. However, this presents a selection headache for Ruud van Nistelrooy as he prepares to name his team to face Manchester United.
With Ricardo Pereira making his return after a four-month absence, the only remaining injury concern is Abdul Fatawu, who is out for the season due to an ACL tear. This leaves van Nistelrooy with 22 fit senior outfield players, but only 18 spots available in the matchday squad.
Barring any new injuries, four players will need to be left out each week. Against Chelsea, Oliver Skipp traveled with the team but didn’t make the bench, while Jannik Vestergaard, Kasey McAteer, and Odsonne Edouard were omitted entirely.
Vestergaard’s exclusion was particularly surprising, as he had started just 10 days earlier in a defeat to West Ham. Previously, van Nistelrooy had included all four of his centre-backs in the squad, even when playing with a back four. Now, despite shifting to a back five, he opted for only three central defenders—Wout Faes and Conor Coady were joined by Luke Thomas, with Caleb Okoli on the bench.
Vestergaard’s absence is unlikely to cause much discontent among fans, especially if it allows more attacking options on the bench. With Ricardo Pereira back and Woyo Coulibaly available again, the squad has greater depth in wide areas.
However, the exclusions of Skipp, McAteer, and Edouard raise further questions. Skipp’s inability to make the bench will only increase scrutiny over the £20m Leicester spent on him. Meanwhile, McAteer’s continued absence might lead some to question the club’s decision to reject Sunderland’s January bid for him—though one injury could see him back in the squad.
Even with van Nistelrooy deploying a strike partnership of Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka at Stamford Bridge, Edouard was still left out, fueling frustration over his underwhelming loan spell.
Ultimately, some players will always have to miss out, and most fans are unlikely to contest the current selections. However, the squad’s near-full fitness also reduces the chances of 16-year-old Jake Evans getting an opportunity. The teenager has been prolific in Premier League 2, and fans had hoped he might get a chance to address the team’s goal-scoring struggles.
Van Nistelrooy has previously stated he would consider Evans if he believed the youngster was a better option than his current forwards. However, with senior players already being left out, it seems unlikely that he will sacrifice another spot to make room for the academy star.
