Leicester City could be without six players when they head to Newcastle this Saturday, with Ruud van Nistelrooy running low on midfield options.
Boubakary Soumare has been ruled out after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 2-2 draw with Brighton. And the Frenchman’s partner in the centre of the park, Wilfred Ndidi, could also be out.
Hobbling off just after half-time with a hamstring injury on Sunday, Ndidi will be a doubt to feature at St James’ Park, with van Nistelrooy fearing bad news. An assessment on the Nigerian will take place this week, with an update to come at the City manager’s press conference on Thursday.
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Without the duo, who started both of van Nistelrooy’s first two games, it would be helpful if Harry Winks returned to fitness. However, last week he was still training alone, with the club’s physios, rather than alongside his team-mates, and so this weekend may be too soon for him to return from his groin problem.
That would leave City with just Oliver Skipp and Hamza Choudhury as their senior midfield options. The latter has played just 14 minutes of Premier League football this season, and has not played any matches since September, having missed a month of game through October and November with a dislocated shoulder.
City have three long-term absentees as well. Abdul Fatawu is out for the season with an ACL tear, while Ricardo Pereira is not expected to be back from his hamstring injury until March. However, goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, who injured his foot in the second week of pre-season, is nearing a return.
There is one spot of good news for City, with Facundo Buonanotte to return to the fold. The on-loan attacking midfielder was ineligible at the weekend, with City taking on his parent club Brighton.
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