Brendan Rodgers hopes a fightback within the second half of the season would be the “story” that defines Leicester’s marketing campaign this time spherical.
For the final two seasons, the Foxes have appeared like ending fourth within the Premier League solely to falter and miss out on qualification for the Champions League on the ultimate day on every event.
This time, Rodgers’ facet are enjoying catch up. Leicester head into their house sport in opposition to sixth-placed Tottenham on Wednesday night time tenth within the desk, however with as many as 4 video games in hand on some groups above them as a result of coronavirus postponements.
Ought to they win all of these rescheduled matches, the Foxes can be stage on factors with West Ham – who at the moment occupy fourth spot.
After disappointing finishes in earlier season, Rodgers is hopeful of a memorable second half of the marketing campaign.
“It’s good to get some injured gamers again for what shall be a really busy second half to the season,” stated the Leicester boss.
“It has been a problem for us, little question, the primary half (of the season) and it’s nice credit score to the gamers for a number of the performances that we’ve got had.
“We at all times look to enhance and our story this yr is likely to be the second half of the season.
“We now have proven that resilience and mentality that you simply want so with gamers coming again, and hopefully we are able to get that rhythm again within the staff, I’m hopeful we are able to have a fantastic second half of the season.
“It’s all about adversity and the way you react to that and the gamers have proven time and time once more that they’re good at that. There’s a number of video games to play and plenty nonetheless to play for.”
Rodgers may have a number of gamers again in rivalry for what shall be Leicester’s first Premier League sport of 2022.
Postponements have meant the FA Cup third-round win in opposition to Watford on January 8 is the one match the Foxes have performed this yr.
Nevertheless, the break has given Patson Daka, James Justin, Caglar Soyuncu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor and Luke Thomas the time they wanted to completely get better from accidents, whereas Boubakary Soumare and Ayoze Perez are each match once more after sickness.
Nevertheless, Timothy Castagne faces two months out after he was compelled to bear an operation on his thigh damage.
The Belgium worldwide suffered a useless leg within the 1-0 victory over Liverpool within the closing sport of 2021, however issues within the restoration imply he has wanted surgical procedure.
He’ll now spend eight to 9 weeks on the sidelines, and joins Jamie Vardy and Jonny Evans amongst Metropolis’s long-term absentees.
“Timothy has had an operation so he’s in all probability eight to 9 weeks (out),” stated Rodgers.
“He had a difficulty together with his thigh and he wanted to go and have an operation.
“He had blood that usually you’d ice and compress and it might go away, however the blood stored returning to his thigh, so we wanted to have an operation rapidly to launch that, in order that’s put him out for plenty of weeks.”
Ryan Bertrand (knee) and Ricardo Pereira (damaged leg) stay out and Kelechi Iheanacho, Daniel Amartey, Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy are on the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
