James Justin limped out of Leicester City’s 2-1 defeat to Preston with an injury potentially scuppering a transfer to Leeds United.
Justin started as captain for City once again at Deepdale despite doubts over his long-term future at the club, with Leeds keen to take the versatile full-back to the Premier League.
But he could not complete the full match. With around a quarter of an hour to play, Justin was fouled by Jordan Storey and required treatment from the City medical staff.
After a few minutes, it was deemed he would not be able to continue, and so he hobbled off the pitch and down the tunnel, with Hamza Choudhury coming on to replace him.
“JJ unfortunately got a kick on the leg,” City manager Marti Cifuentes said when asked about Justin’s injury status.
“The medical team is assessing. I don’t know exactly what the outcome is. Hopefully it’s not an injury, or a big injury at least.”
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Justin only has a year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium, and so a transfer this summer becomes more likely, so that City do not lose him for nothing next year.
Leeds have been in advanced talks over Justin in the past few days as they look to sign the 27-year-old and bolster their full-back ranks, but that didn’t stop Cifuentes naming him captain again.
If the injury is serious, it could see Leeds pull out of a move, with Justin then staying put.
But for Cifuentes, the bigger consideration will be over who plays at right-back against Charlton next weekend, when City try to get back on track.
Choudhury is an option, but Ricardo Pereira may be back fit and available to make his first competitive appearance under the new manager.
He returned to training at the start of last week after a month out with a hamstring injury and travelled with the squad to Deepdale.
In taking the armband for the first two Championship games, Justin has been deputising for Ricardo, who was named the club’s new captain at the start of the campaign.
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