Wilfred Ndidi has been given a huge boost in the race to become the top tackler in the Premier League this season following a long-term injury to Leicester City team-mate, Ricardo Pereira, Completesports.com reports.
Ricardo who is currently on top of the top-tackler’s chart is out for the rest of the 2019/20 campaign after the Leicester right-full-back suffered an ACL injury in Aston Villa rout on Monday.
The defender was a victim of an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Villa in the English Premier League encounter which saw the Foxes spank the Villains 4-0 at King Power Stadium.
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Leicester boss, Brendan Rodgers said: “We’ve got Ricardo Pereira who will be out for the rest of the season. He had a challenge and has hurt his ACL. He’s not had an operation.
“He’s just with the medical team. It’s a blow for us. It’s a shame. You’ve just got to see how the player reacts. You’re looking between four to six months. That will be the time we are expecting.”
Ricardo has so far made 116 tackles after 2,430 minutes of Premier League football this season, Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United has 99 while Ndidi has 88 tackles in 1,809 minutes.
With the injury to Ricardo, Ndidi who had earlier lost further ground in the race has certainly been presented with the opportunity to become the Premier League’s top tackler for the third consecutive season.
The 23-year-old has so far played a part in Leicester City’s 23 EPL matches from which he has two goals, one assist and three yellow cards. Overall, he has played 29 games this season.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
