Leicester City expect to be without Jonny Evans for the first three games of their Premier League season as the defender recovers from a foot injury, according to Leicestershire Live.
Evans struggled with chronic pain in his foot over the final few months of last term. The Northern Irishman is improving, but has not shown enough progress over the summer to be in contention for minutes.
The centre-half is working out in the gym alone and is yet to join his teammates at the Foxes’ facilities. Rodgers hopes Evans shows enough progress over the coming weeks to make his Leicester return following the September international break.
Evans returning, potentially, after the first international break of the new season will see him miss at least Leicester’s first three games, plus Saturday’s Community Shield. The Foxes open the campaign against Wolves on August 14 before facing West Ham and Norwich.
Leicester then host Manchester City on September 11, repeating this weekend’s Wembley meeting at the Community Shield. The Foxes booked their place in the traditional season-opener by winning last term’s FA Cup.
Evans’ injury forced the 91-cap international off during the FA Cup final win over Chelsea in May. He returned for the capital clash after sitting out a 4-2 defeat at home to Newcastle in the league, and was unable to then face Manchester United, Chelsea or Tottenham.
Rodgers itching for Evans return at Leicester
Rodgers will be itching to have Evans back on the training pitches and then the King Power field for Leicester. He is down to one natural centre-half for this weekend’s Community Shield after Wesley Fofana sustained a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in midweek.
Rodgers also values Evans and what the £80,000-per-week enforcer brings to the Foxes’ backline extremely highly. He said, via Sky Sports, in May before facing Newcastle: “I knew he was a top player. I see someone of great maturity.
“He knows the game at the highest level. He is a deep thinker about the game, a super-intelligent guy. You can see that he watches football.”
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