Leicester City will travel to Crystal Palace with the same squad available, Steve Cooper revealed on Thursday.
– The Foxes face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in this Saturday’s Premier League return
– Manager Steve Cooper will have the same squad at his disposal for the trip to London
– Bobby De Cordova-Reid is a late returner from international duty with Jamaica
– An update was also offered on forward Patson Daka who is out of action long-term
The Foxes are due at Selhurst Park for a 3pm BST kick-off on Saturday as the Premier League season resumes following this week’s international fixtures.
City’s Manager was pleased to report a clean bill of health among those who went on their travels around the world, while speaking in his pre-match press conference, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid the only player yet to return to Seagrave having turned out for Jamaica in Honduras on Wednesday.
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Jamie Vardy
Captaining the side against Aston Villa.
“No, the players have come back from international duty,” the 44-year-old confirmed to the media from LCFC Training Ground. “Some are still recovering from games, which is normal because of the Tuesday games.
“Some have had some long travel as well. Bobby [De Cordova-Reid] is still not with us because of his schedule, we’ll see him tomorrow, but it’s no disadvantage really.
“Every Premier League club will lose a lot of players and they’ll come back in a staggered schedule through the week leading back into the recommencement of the league. We’re no different, we’re just adapting, like we have to, through these weeks.
Jamie Vardy has started each of the opening three league fixtures, playing a total of 240 minutes, with the break offering a prime opportunity for the 37-year-old to recover from the rigours of Premier League football.
He’s on course but still a while away.
Steve Cooper
on Patson Daka
“We try to use the international break wisely with the players staying here,” Cooper explained. “Vards trained for a week or so before that injury and then trained once and went into a Premier League start. For him we definitely used it to get some training into him and this week while preparing him for being available for the game.
“The training has been good for him and his application is great and how he looks after himself. He played 90 minutes before the break. He wasn’t lacking the legs in the closing stages. Hopefully he’ll be a little bit stronger now.”
Cooper also offered an update on one of the long-term absentees, explaining how Patson Daka is progressing well in his recovery from an injury picked up towards the end of the pre-season schedule.
The Manager commented: “It’s long-term recovery but he’s out of his boot now and his crutches. He had an operation soon after the injury so he’s looking a bit more normal in terms of how he is walking around the place. He’s on course but still a while away.”
