Ben Nelson has returned to loan club Oxford United for the remainder of the season in a boost to Leicester City’s plans for next term.
The 20-year-old centre-back has been recovering at City for the past four months after undergoing surgery on a serious thigh injury suffered in November.
The intention was always for Nelson to go back to Oxford once he was fit and the Championship side have now announced the defender’s return to training.
It’s not expected he will play until after the March international break, when there will be eight games left for Nelson to impress and ensure Oxford’s place in the division.
“Ben Nelson is back in the group training for the first day,” manager Gary Rowett said. “I think it’s going to take him a little bit of time to be at a level when he can then start playing games, so you’re probably looking at the international break.
“There is a small chance maybe just before that, but again we’ve got to try and make good decisions around a young player with great potential.”
Oxford went on a nine-game unbeaten run after Rowett was appointed to surge up the table, but that has since become a seven-match winless streak. They now sit 18th, seven points above the drop zone.
Nelson, while taking time to establish himself after securing the loan move last summer, was becoming a key player for Oxford and had started eight games in a row when he suffered his injury.
Then City manager Steve Cooper was watching from the stands when Nelson tore his thigh muscle, having been considering a January recall for the centre-back.
City will now hope that Nelson gets a handful of games before the end of the season to prepare him for a role at the King Power Stadium next term.
Whether in the Championship or the Premier League, Nelson is expected to be a part of the City first-team squad. If relegated, and with a potential clear-out of players, he could be a starter for the club next campaign.
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