Brendan Rodgers is expecting some “positive news” on Jamie Vardy’s injury next week as Leicester continue to negotiate a heavy match schedule.
Vardy has been sidelined since early last month with a knee injury and is unavailable for Sunday’s Premier League home game against Crystal Palace.
The Foxes, tied 0-0 at home by PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarterfinals on Thursday night, will play the third of eight matches scheduled for this month.
Rodgers said: “Jamie is not coming back. He had a final injection on Tuesday and we’ll see what the reaction to that is.
“He can do a lot of physical work, we’re just not ready to kick the ball. So we hope to get some positive news next week on that.”
Rodgers said there will be changes for Sunday’s clash with Palace. The Foxes will play the second leg against PSV in the Netherlands next Thursday and then face a trip to Newcastle next Sunday.
“It’s the accumulation of games,” Rodgers said. “This month alone we have eight games to fit in and I have told the players that the same team will not play every game.
“You can do it, but you won’t get the same intensity and energy that you’d like.
“The attitude of the players would always be first class, but the game is about energy, intensity, urgency, so naturally we would have to make changes.”
Rodgers confirmed that midfielder Nampalys Mendy and defender Caglar Soyuncu will return to contention for Sunday’s match, while forward Ayoze Pérez would be evaluated following illness.
Palace will be buoyed by Monday night’s 3-0 home win against Arsenal and Rodgers has been impressed by their progress under Patrick Vieira.
Rodgers added: “Palace looks great for him. The team is playing well, seems to be enjoying themselves and is doing a fantastic job so far.
“It was always going to be (a tough game) for us, despite the result against Arsenal. We are at the back of a European game.
“They also have good physicality throughout their team and they had a week to prepare. Good result or not against Arsenal, this was always going to be a tough game.”
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