Steve Cooper has called the absence of Odsonne Edouard for Crystal Palace vs Leicester City “frustrating” but suggested the international break could help Jamie Vardy’s fitness.
Edouard will not be available under the conditions of his season-long loan from Palace, while Vardy has started all three of Leicester’s Premier League matches following an injury worry during pre-season.
“We are looking forward to introducing him when we can,” Cooper said of Edouard, who made the move on August 31, having scored 21 goals in 103 appearances since joining Palace from Celtic in 2021.
“It is a bit frustrating but they are the terms of his loan. Vards trained for a week or so before that injury and then… went into a Premier League start.
“For him, we definitely used [the international break] to get some training into him… preparing him for being available for the game.”
The Manager looks ahead to #CRYLEI 🎥
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 12, 2024
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Jamie Vardy: Training ‘good’
Former England forward Vardy scored in City’s 1-1 opening draw at home to Tottenham. “The training has been good for him and his application is great, how he looks after himself,” observed Cooper.
“He played 90 minutes [at home to Aston Villa] before the break. He wasn’t lacking the legs in the closing stages. Hopefully he’ll be a little bit stronger now.”
Cooper said new attacker Bobby De Cordova-Reid would not join the squad until Friday after playing 90 minutes for Jamaica in Honduras on Wednesday.
On the work in the last two weeks 🏃
“We’ve tried to maximise the international break as much as we can, we had a good core of players who stayed here and we’ve got some good work done.” pic.twitter.com/zYa5nQLmDH
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 12, 2024
“Some players are still recovering from [international] games, which is normal, and some have had a long travel,” he added.
“There are no disadvantages to that, as every Premier League team will lose a lot of players and they come back staggered. We are no different and we are just adapting, like you have to.”
Patson Daka injury
Zambia forward Patson Daka, who scored seven goals in City’s Championship-winning 2023-24 campaign, is out with an ankle injury he suffered during Leicester’s final pre-season match against Lens.
“It’s long-term recovery but he’s out of his boot now and his crutches,” said Cooper.
On taking on Palace 🏟️
“They have a clear way of playing, formation and tactical repetitions. It’s an away game and that comes with its challenges. We’re fully aware of the task ahead and how it will look on the pitch, and off the pitch with the atmosphere.” pic.twitter.com/WAerUIusPJ
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 12, 2024
“He had an operation soon after the injury so he’s looking a bit more normal in terms of how he is walking around the place. He’s on course but still a while away.”
Leicester enter the game at Selhurst Park on Saturday (3pm BST) with one point from three games, having lost at Fulham and Villa.
