Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed summer signing Conor Coady is in line to feature in tomorrow’s crunch Championship clash with Southampton.
The 30-year-old joined the Foxes for a fee of £7.5 million from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July as Maresca opted for Premier League proven quality for their debut season back in the second tier.
Coady has built a reputation as one of the strongest centre-backs in the English game in recent years and his experience is one that will hugely benefit the squad this season. However, the England international is yet to feature for his new side after suffering a fractured foot in training.
He has recently stepped up his recovery ahead of a return to competitive football and looks set to join up with the matchday squad tomorrow. Speaking to the media ahead of the trip to the south coast, Maresca said;
“He trained with us these last days. He has started to be better, to be good. Probably tomorrow, he can be in the squad.
“Conor is so important that even if he is not 100 per cent, it’s good to have him with us. Probably, he can be with us tomorrow but that doesn’t mean he is 100 per cent.”
Both Leicester and Southampton have been in fine form since their relegation from the Premier League, although both clubs suffered their first defeats of the campaign in the final game before the international break earlier this month.
The Saints arguably have the bigger point to prove after being thumped 5-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, whilst Leicester went down to a solitary goal against Hull City at the King Power Stadium.
Writer’s View
Despite relegation, Leicester’s acquisition shows they still have big pulling power and Coady is a player who should still be playing in the top tier.
It is unlikely that Coady will be handed a starting berth tomorrow night, but his presence is one that will be a huge boost to the manager. He will be hopeful that he can appear amongst the substitutes and get a quick run out towards the end of the match, especially should Leicester be defending a slim lead.
Tomorrow’s clash at St Mary’s is expected to be one of the games of the season between two sides who are favourites for promotion.
Head of Writing
