By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian defensive midfielders, Wilfred Ndidi, and his compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho were missing during their midweek Europa League encounter against the Polish side, Legia Warsaw.
They were, however, missing for different reasons. While Ndidi was suspended from the match, Iheanacho could not secure the needed documents to enter the Eastern European country to play.
Further reports from England have revealed the defensive midfielder is now likely to miss the Premier League action at Selhurst Park on Sunday against London side, Crystal Palace after tweaking his hamstring.
The injury which made Nigerian coach, Gernot Rohr leave him out of the 23 players he invited for the upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against the Central African Republic(CAR), is now likely to keep him out of the EPL encounter against Patrick Viera side.
According to Leicestermercury.co.uk, Leicester City manager, Brendan Rodgers, has admitted the injury could see Ndidi miss out on the fixture at Selhurst Park.
Ndidi whose suspension against Legia Warsaw will be the first match he has missed for the Foxes since February, starting in a run of 30 fixtures before then, has also been described as irreplaceable by his manager.
“Obviously he couldn’t play tonight but he had a bit of an issue at the beginning of the Burnley game so he’s a big doubt for the weekend,”
“It’s impossible to find what we have, we’ve got good players, but specifically the job he does in breaking up play and just his overall defending and in the box, he’s irreplaceable for us.
“We have a number of other good players, we just need to find a different way. That’s also part of the point, as I said earlier in the season, for bringing Soumare into the squad, because he gives us that physicality. But Wilfred is a really unique and fabulous player.” Rogers said
Iheanacho is back in contention to play against Crystal Palace, after he missed out on the midweek Europa League game, following an issue with his documents at the Polish border.
Rodgers has this to say about him: “He flew back. He’ll be fresh and ready for the weekend.”
The Nigerian striker is also part of the 23 players Rohr invited for the World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic on the 7th and 10th of October respectively.