Puel's Pre-Fleetwood Fitness Update

First Team
04 Jan 2018
2 Minutes
Claude Puel provided an update on the fitness of six players within his Leicester City squad on Thursday afternoon.

- Wes Morgan, Jamie Vardy and Danny Simpson featured in Claude Puel's weekly fitness update
- Morgan and Simpson (hamstring) will miss the Emirates FA Cup tie at Fleetwood on Saturday
- The fitness of Vardy (groin) will be assessed at Belvoir Drive on Friday, but Puel won't take risks
- Puel may make changes for the clash with Matty James and Adrien Silva in contention
- Robert Huth is not likely to appear after completing 90 minutes for the Development Squad 

As the Foxes conclude their preparations to face Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round, Puel will assess the fitness of several players on Friday morning.

While Wes Morgan and Danny Simpson will not feature for City this weekend, with both recently picking up hamstring injuries, Jamie Vardy’s groin problem is less of a concern for the Frenchman.

“I don’t know when [Simpson] can come back into competition,” Puel told the national media. “He has come back into the gym and he has started to do some exercise.

“For Wes, we will see. It’s not too bad, but I think it might be a few weeks. For Vardy, it’s a light injury. If we feel tomorrow [Friday] that he cannot be at 100 per cent, we will not risk him.”

Puel also revealed that several figures within his squad may be called upon at Fleetwood to aid their progress towards full fitness.

After making his Club debut from the bench during the 3-0 triumph over Huddersfield Town, Adrien Silva is in contention for Saturday's clash.

The Portuguese midfielder's maiden appearance followed a four-month wait for the completion of his registration as a City player.

Elsewhere, Matty James, whose recovery from an Achilles complaint continued with an 86-minute outing on New Year's Day, could also feature for the Foxes at Highbury Stadium.

It is a good opportunity for them to make progress in their fitness. We will pick a team to win the game, of course.

Claude Puel

“[We may make] some changes but that is normal,” Puel added. “Now we will see all the players, like Silva and James, if they need some game time to have a good tempo to their play.

“It is a good opportunity for them to make progress in their fitness. We will pick a team to win the game, of course.”

Meanwhile, Robert Huth (ankle) completed 90 minutes for the Club's Development Squad on Wednesday, but Saturday's tie is likely to be too soon for a first team return.