Leicester midfielder James Maddison is struggling with an ankle injury and is an early doubt to face Newcastle on Sunday. The playmaker sat out the Foxes’ 4-0 win over Luton Town in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday, having taken a blow to his ankle in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham last Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers’ side did not miss the 22-year-old, with Demarai Gray, James Justin, Youri Tielemans and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho all on target at Kenilworth Road, but look set to be without him against the Magpies this weekend.
Assistant boss Chris Davies says the Foxes will keep a close eye on the former Norwich man in the build-up to the clash against Newcastle but the early signs are not good that he will be fit. “Madders got a knock on his ankle and he looks a doubt for weekend, but we’ll see how he is in recovery this week,” Davies said after Tuesday’s win.
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Maddison has been a shining light for Leicester so far this season and his absence from the side to take on Newcastle would be a blow after some recent outstanding performances.
He was rewarded with a call-up to the England squad during the last international break but was left on the bench by boss Gareth Southgate against both Bulgaria and Kosovo.
For his club, Maddison has scored one and managed two assists, helping Rodgers’ men up to third in the table, and is believed to be attracting attention from others, with Manchester United among those heavily linked in recent weeks.
Summer signing Denis Praet was brought in against the Hatters, while Ayoze Perez was pushed further forward as Jamie Vardy also sat the tie out. If Maddison doesn’t make it this weekend then Rodgers could opt to use Praet again, while Hamza Choudhury could also come into his thinking.
