Maresca: Doyle Out, Coady Could Return
- Callum Doyle is set for a 'long time out' with an injury, says Enzo Maresca
- Leicester City are awaiting a more detailed update on the defender's complaint
- Maresca also confirmed that Conor Coady could be involved at Liverpool on Wednesday
- That clash at Anfield is a third-round tie in the Carabao Cup (7:45pm BST kick-off)
Doyle, 19, has started every game for the Foxes so far this season, but was taken off at half-time during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Bristol City at King Power Stadium. Coady, meanwhile, is yet to feature in a competitive fixture since joining the Club in the summer.
City, who are top of the Sky Bet Championship, travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Speaking before that third-round tie on Merseyside, Maresca provided an update on Doyle's condition.
The Club is awaiting a full picture on the issue, but the Manager could confirm that the England Under-21s defender will be out for 'a long time'.
"Unfortunately, it’s not good," he told the media on Tuesday. "It’s expected it’ll be a long time out. The only thing I can say is that it’ll be unfortunately a long time. We don’t know exactly how long for the moment.
"They are doing some checks. We don’t know exactly the injury and don’t know exactly the time.
"When you play football, you know this can happen. Probably it’s his first important injury. I had him three years ago (at Manchester City U21s), no injury. He played all the games for Sunderland and Coventry as well, but it is what it is."
James Justin, who replaced Doyle on Filbert Way at the weekend, is one option to step into the breach in Leicester's defensive set-up.
"We have almost double players for each position," Maresca explained. "The only position we have just one is Callum as he’s a left-footed player. We’re going to find a solution and adapt.
"Justin played already twice in the cup and against Southampton, making three at the back, but on the right side because he’s right footed. He was good against Bristol City too."
There was better news concerning Coady, however, with the former Everton centre-back nearing a return from a foot issue. City's No.4 also played for Liverpool at the outset of his career.
Asked if he could play against his former employers, the Manager said: "Not because it’s his former club, just because, as I said already twice, after eight or nine weeks out, you need to come back step by step, slowly.
"Tomorrow could be the right game for him."
Maresca also revealed that there will be changes to the line-up on Wednesday, with the fixture schedule starting to bite. Leicester have nine of 10 games in all competitions this season, but maintaining that form will require rotation, he says.
"For sure, we’re going to make changes, no doubt," the Italian continued. "We will continue to use other players because they deserve it. We cannot play every game with the same XI. Players need to refresh and rest for Sunday’s game against Blackburn."