Thursday, October 22, 2020

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers teases Jamie Vardy return against Arsenal

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers teases Jamie Vardy return against Arsenal
Last season’s top scorer has missed Leicester’s last two matches (Picture: Getty Images)

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful that Jamie Vardy will be available to take on Arsenal on Sunday but he will be subject to a late fitness test.

Last season’s Premier League top scorer has been out of action with a calf problem and missed both Monday night’s defeat to Aston Villa and Thursday’s Europa League triumph over Zorya Luhansk.

James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho were all on the score sheet in a 3-0 win which Vardy watched from the stands.

Jamie Vardy Leicester City v Zorya Luhansk: Group G - UEFA Europa League
Vardy had to watch the clash with Zorya Luhansk from the stands (Picture: Getty)

Although he was not fit enough to play against the Ukrainian side, Rodgers is cautiously optimistic that Vardy could play some part at the Emirates on Sunday.

‘We’ll see how he is over the next couple of days and hopefully he can be available for the weekend,’ Rodgers told BT Sport after the game.

‘But we’ll see about that in the next 48 hours.

‘It’s important to get all the players back not just Jamie. We’ve got a number of players, very important players, that are out.

‘But at the front end of the pitch, of course, he offers a threat with his speed, his movement and how clinical he is.’

Rapid Wien v Arsenal FC: Group B - UEFA Europa League
Arsenal enjoyed a victory themselves on Thursday against Rapid Vienna (Picture: Getty)

Vardy has an excellent record against Arsenal, scoring 10 goals in 11 Premier League games against the Gunners – though Leicester have only won three of those encounters.

The 33-year-old has continued this season how he finished the previous campaign, when he edged out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to win the Golden Boot, scoring five goals in four games – a goal every 71 minutes.

Arsenal, meanwhile, enjoyed a profitable night themselves in the Europa League as they recorded a 2-1 victory away to Rapid Vienna.

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