Maresca: Ndidi Set For Extended Time Out

LCFC Men
05 Jan 2024
2 Minutes
Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is due for a spell on the sidelines with a potential muscular problem, Leicester City Manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

- Enzo Maresca has provided an update on the condition of his Leicester City squad
- The Foxes face Millwall at The Den in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round this weekend
- Wilfred Ndidi could face up to three months out with a muscular problem
- Kelechi Iheanacho will not be involved in the tie against Millwall
- Jamie Vardy, Kasey McAteer, Dennis Praet and Will Alves are also working towards returns

The Nigeria international has been ruled out of representing his country at this month's Africa Cup of Nations tournament in the Ivory Coast and could also miss a number of months of City's domestic campaign too.

Maresca was speaking in Seagrave on Friday ahead of the visit to The Den to tackle fellow Sky Bet Championship outfit Millwall in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round on Saturday (12:30pm GMT kick-off).

Ndidi has been a key figure this term for City, who currently hold a 10-point lead at the top of the second-tier standings. The Manager says he is awaiting a more detailed assessment of the former Genk midfielder's injury. 

Wilfred Ndidi's last outing for Leicester was in the 2-0 win at Cardiff City before the New Year.

"Probably for Wilf, it will be a long time," Maresca told reporters. "It could be three months. It looks like a muscular problem, but an important one, so we will see in the next hours but the situation for Wilf is probably the clearest one."

Kelechi Iheanacho, one of Ndidi's Super Eagles team-mates, is also recovering from an injury complaint of his own. Maresca, however, is unclear on how long the striker is expected to be on the sidelines for. The former Manchester City man will definitely miss Saturday's trip to Millwall.

Will [Alves] has joined us already a few times, he's getting better, so he is close to joining us for a full session.

Enzo Maresca

"I don’t know," the Italian added. "The only thing I can say it that Kel is still injured. It’s getting better but it’s still not 100 per cent otherwise he would be in the squad for tomorrow and he’s not in the squad."

Jamie Vardy, Kasey McAteer, Dennis Praet and Will Alves, on the other hand, have been out of action over recent weeks and the Manager says their situations remain largely the same as before.

"The players that were injured, they are all progressing well, Jamie, Kasey, Dennis, Will, Kel and Wilf. They are still in the same situation. Will has joined us already a few times, he's getting better, so he is close to joining us for a full session."