Manchester City will assess Aymeric Laporte’s injury once back in training, while Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne should be available at Leicester, per the Manchester Evening News.
Pep Guardiola has an anxious wait for a few players to return from international duty after suffering various issues. Laporte sparked concerns over the weekend when Luis Enrique replaced the centre-half at half-time against Georgia with a suspected adductor problem.
Back-up goalkeeper Zack Steffen also tested positive for coronavirus while with the United States squad. While Nathan Ake withdrew from Netherlands duty for personal reasons, and is a doubt to face the Foxes on Saturday.
Foden and De Bruyne are expected to be in contention for a seat on the bench at the King Power. Guardiola has been without Foden since he sustained a foot injury during Euro 2020 with England. De Bruyne, meanwhile, featured on the opening day of the season against Tottenham, but has continued to struggle with an ankle problem picked up at the Euros.
The pair of midfielders should be involved in the Citizens’ training sessions later this week to strengthen Guardiola’s attacking options. While Manchester City will assess Laporte’s adductor problem once he returns from Spain duty after facing Kosovo on Wednesday.
Laporte has regained his place in Guardiola’s plans this term with starts in Manchester City’s last two Premier League games. The 27-year-old enforcer only opened 14 of his 16 top-flight appearances last term, with John Stones preferred alongside Ruben Dias.
But Stones is yet to play any minutes in 2021/22 so far, with Ake fielded with Dias against Tottenham. The England international could now return at Leicester, should Guardiola be without Laporte and Ake. He played 29 games with Dias across all competitions last term.
Should Manchester City fear being without Laporte against Leicester?
Guardiola will be reluctant to change his unbeaten Manchester City line-up, but is unlikely to fear being without Laporte. The Citizens were unbeaten in 26 of the 29 games that Dias and Stones played together. Including both Champions League ties with Paris Saint-Germain.
Laporte would be a loss, nonetheless, having regained his place in Guardiola’s plans at Stones’ expense. And the Sky Blues seemingly have apprehensions over his injury, as Spain boss Enrique has moved to ease any concerns.
Enrique said, via the Manchester Evening News, after Spain beat Georgia: “Laporte has nothing, it’s just a small overload. I don’t think they’ll even test him.”
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