Leicester’s preparations for the upcoming season have taken a hit with the news that Patson Daka will be sidelined for “a few months.” The striker sustained an ankle injury during the final pre-season friendly against Lens and has undergone surgery, with new manager Steve Cooper expecting him to be out for an extended period.
Cooper also confirmed that Jamie Vardy and Conor Coady will be unavailable. During his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night’s Premier League opener against Tottenham, Cooper stated, “Patson’s situation is not good. He’s suffered a significant ankle injury, had surgery, and will be out for several months. Vards has been out since the second week of pre-season; he’s getting closer to returning but still has some time to go.
“It’s not an ideal situation. Conor Coady will also be out for a few more weeks with a hamstring injury.
“Vards is in the final stages of rehab. With his experience, he understands his body well and will play a key role in managing his return.”
The Foxes are facing a challenging campaign as they return to the Premier League, with the looming threat of a points deduction and minimal new signings.
Cooper mentioned that no new additions would be made before Monday night’s game.
“Every season, you aim to reinforce and strengthen the squad,” he said. “We’re still in that process. The club is working together, and communication is excellent.
“It’s been a slow transfer market. Once I realized earlier this week that there wouldn’t be any new signings for Monday, I shifted my focus entirely to the game. That’s all we can control.
“Players have to be registered by midday on Friday, and you usually know a few days before because it’s a process, with medicals and registration.
“It’s a detailed process. We knew early in the week that new signings were unlikely. We’re concentrating on the players we have, and they deserve that focus.”
