Jamie Vardy was “rested” for the second half against Manchester City and will be fit to face Newcastle on Monday evening.
Vardy was substituted at half-time at the Etihad Stadium, with midfielder Oli Skipp coming on in his place.
The City captain had had another frustrating evening, with no service and no chance to add to his goals tally. That frustration boiled over and he earned a yellow card.
That probably helped make Ruud van Nistelrooy’s mind up, the manager deciding to withdraw Vardy for the second period.
“No injury,” van Nistelrooy said when asked why he brought Vardy off. “Of course it was a game where we are defending a lot and in a sense you could say I was resting him.”
Skipp came off the bench with the £20m summer signing preferred to fellow former Tottenham man Harry Winks.
Asked if Winks’ omission was because of selection or injury, van Nistelrooy confirmed it was selection.
The midfielder was one of four fit senior outfield players to miss out on a place in the 20-man squad, alongside Jannik Vestergaard, Kasey McAteer and Odsonne Edouard.
That’s with every player but Abdul Fatawu fit. The Ghanaian is the only player on the sidelines after Ricardo Pereira made another comeback.
He returned from a four-month lay-off against Chelsea last month but a slight hamstring strain kept him out of the defeat to Manchester United.
He was back involved again on Wednesday evening though, providing a few positives in his cameo off the bench.
If he plays against Newcastle on Monday, it will be in the same capacity, as a substitute.
“He had a great 20 minutes,” van Nistelrooy said of Ricardo at his press conference on Thursday. “With the injuries he’s had, we’re careful with him.
“He had the hamstring injury after he was back, so he missed a game because of that. Now he’s back after only two days training with the first team.
“Monday is soon. We’re very happy he’s available and he can make an impact Monday, but as a starter it’s quite early.”
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