Wesley Fofana will undergo surgery on Monday before starting his rehabilitation at Leicester's training facility later in the week; Brendan Rodgers says the damage "in and around his medial ligament" is worse than first feared and there is no timeline on when he may return next year
Saturday 7 August 2021 23:54, UK
Leicester defender Wesley Fofana will be out until 2022 with a medial ligament injury, says manager Brendan Rodgers.
Fofana was carried off on a stretcher after suffering the injury during Leicester's pre-season friendly against Villarreal at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday night.
The injury to Fofana's left leg occurred after a challenge by Villarreal forward Fer Nino during the second half, and the centre-back later revealed on social media that he had suffered a fractured fibula.
Fofana will undergo surgery on Monday before returning to the club's training facility late next week, but there is no clear timeline about when the defender will be fit once again, with the extent of his injury worse than first feared.
Following Saturday's Community Shield win over Manchester City, Rodgers said: "Fofana has his operation on Monday and he won't play until 2022.
"At what point that will be, we'll have to assess that in the next six months or so.
"In and around his medial ligament, there was a lot more damage there than we'd hoped. The scan showed up it was quite substantial damage there.
"He'll have his operation, and then he'll be back in the training ground on Thursday, Friday next week and begin his rehab then.
"It's such a shame for us. An incredible talent. But he's in really, really good spirits.
"It's such a shame, for the Premier League not to have a talent like that. Certainly for us it's a big blow."
Leicester are expected to accelerate their plans to sign a new centre-back after Fofana's injury.
Jonny Evans is also a doubt for Leicester's Premier League opener against Wolves on August 14.
The Foxes do want to add a new centre-back in August, but are mindful of the situation once Fofana and Evans return to fitness.
As a result, they are likely to explore players available on loan.
"We are definitely light in the area," said Rodgers, who confirmed the club had a small list of players identified as potential signings.
"Filip Benkovic has done really well over the course of the pre-season, Daniel Amartey can also play there and has done well, but I don't think there is any doubt we are light, and it is something that we will have to look at."
Reflecting on Leicester's Community Shield victory over Manchester City, the Foxes boss said the achievement deserved credit - despite the caveats which came with the contest, such as players still getting up to full fitness and some key players for Man City absent.
"Both teams are here on merit and it is at the end of a pre-season when players are still looking for fitness physically but you've seen over the last number of years it's even more so become a prominent trophy," said Rodgers.
"If you're here you want to win it and that's the mindset we tried to bring to the team and the club: that every game is to win. The guys showed great spirit, great quality at times and eventually got the winning goal."
