Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has shed light on the injury sustained by Harry Winks during their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the King Power Stadium.
The match proved to be a frustrating evening for the Foxes, who were comprehensively outplayed and exposed across the pitch, particularly in defence and midfield.
The defensive frailties were evident, with Wout Faes enduring a particularly error-strewn performance. Caleb Okoli also failed to provide stability at the back, leaving Leicester vulnerable against a dominant Chelsea side.
However, it was in midfield where the Foxes’ struggles were most acute, largely due to the early loss of Winks, who had to be substituted after just 11 minutes due to a groin injury. His absence disrupted Leicester’s control in midfield, forcing Cooper to adjust his plans.
Cooper’s Reaction to Winks’ Injury
Speaking about the injury post-match, Cooper admitted that Winks’ withdrawal had a significant impact on Leicester’s performance, particularly in the first half. He told Leicestershire Live:
“It’s his groin. Fingers crossed. Sometimes these things can be a week, sometimes they can be… we saw what happened with Ricardo.
“When I said about needing to do better with the ball, Winksy will start that more than anybody else for us. That’s his super-strength, his control of games and his ability to start attacks and keep momentum in the game.
“It was a blow, him coming off, and maybe that did have an interference with why we didn’t have enough good moments on the ball in the first half.
“It’s added to a phase we’re going through with injuries. It hasn’t been a clean week. There were lots of lads who a couple of days ago I didn’t think were going to be fit to play, but they’ve managed to get themselves ready.”
Winks has been a vital cog in Leicester’s midfield this season, featuring in 11 Premier League matches and providing two assists. His ability to dictate the tempo and link play has been instrumental to the team’s setup, and his absence leaves a significant void.
The Pressure on Oliver Skipp
The responsibility to step up in Winks’ absence now falls to Oliver Skipp, who replaced him early in the game against Chelsea.
However, the former Tottenham midfielder has yet to fully establish himself at Leicester. His performances this season have been underwhelming, and Cooper will be looking for a marked improvement from the 23-year-old.
According to SofaScore, Skipp has yet to register a goal or assist in seven league appearances this term.
His passing accuracy is modest, averaging just 23.7 accurate passes per game, and his defensive contributions have been below par, with less than 50% success in ground duels and averages of 0.6 interceptions and 0.7 tackles per match.
These figures fall short of expectations for a player once touted as a promising talent at Spurs.
Cooper will be hoping Skipp can rise to the occasion and help Leicester regain their midfield stability. The upcoming fixtures will be a test of his ability to adapt and deliver under pressure, especially as the Foxes contend with a mounting injury crisis.
Looking Ahead
Leicester’s defeat to Chelsea highlighted the challenges they face this season. With Winks sidelined, Cooper will need to find solutions quickly to keep their campaign on track.
The injury serves as a stark reminder of the squad’s fragility, and the coming weeks will test the depth of Leicester’s midfield resources.
