Jamie Vardy could miss Leicester City’s upcoming Boxing Day clash against Liverpool due to injury.
The Foxes face a daunting challenge as they head to Anfield to take on the Premier League leaders.
Currently sitting 17th in the table, Leicester will need a monumental effort to cause an upset, and their task may be even tougher without Vardy, who has been pivotal this season with six goals and three assists.
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy confirmed Vardy’s fitness is in doubt during his pre-match press conference.
“We have to address Jamie,” Van Nistelrooy explained.
“He picked up some knocks, we have to address him today and tomorrow, see if he’s ready for Thursday. I don’t want to share personal medical updates of players but we have to address it.
“It will hopefully be fine, if not, it will be a short-term issue.”
Goalkeeping uncertainty
Leicester also face a potential dilemma in goal, with first-choice keeper Mads Hermansen still recovering from an injury that kept him out of their 3-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend.
Should Hermansen remain unavailable, former Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward is expected to step in.
Van Nistelrooy said: “It’s about his development and how he improves on a daily basis.
“He is improving on a daily basis. We want him fit but of course, you can’t rush these things. We will see when he’s 100 per cent fit to perform for the team and I’m confident it will be in the short term, but I don’t know when.
“We’re assessing him obviously every day. Jak [Stolarczyk] is one that has been back and playing for the Under-21s, got his first game under his belt, and we’ll make decisions in the coming days.”
Further absences
Leicester’s injury woes extend beyond Vardy and Hermansen. Wilfred Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira, and Issahaku Fatawu are also set to miss the match, further complicating Van Nistelrooy’s preparations for what promises to be a tough test against the league leaders.
