Sad News : three key players won’t play for Leicester city again due to…
Sighs of despondency and frustration around Leicester City may have been joined by sighs of relief from the Premier League’s full-back union after it was announced Abdul Fatawu won’t play again this season.
The Ghanaian winger has been the tormentor in chief so far this campaign. The stats show no player has beaten more opponents in one-on-ones in the Premier League. Despite being just 20 years of age and playing in the English top flight for the first time, Fatawu was showing plenty of signs that he was at home.
There’s a whole host of reasons why Fatawu’s ACL surgery could leave City downbeat. For a start, Fatawu is a very popular member of the squad and news of his injury won’t have been felt lightly by his team-mates. They will also know, as will manager Steve Cooper, that the club have lost one of their leading attacking talents. He’s a match-winner and a game-changer, as shown in that display at Southampton last month.
For fans, they won’t get to see one of the club’s most exciting players again this term. The electric performances Fatawu is capable of is one of the best reasons to pay to see City live. He gets supporters onto their feet in anticipation.
But those gloomy feelings need to be cast aside, especially within the squad. Fatawu’s injury has to be reframed as an opportunity for somebody to step forward and make themselves the new hero.
Cooper has already issued that rallying cry. He said: “When you lose a good player, you’re sad and disappointed. But you have to respond, roll your sleeves up and stick together. For me, it’s about who’s next in terms of who will take responsibility in that part of the pitch. Own the shirt, own the badge, and give everything you can.”
So who are the contenders? Now would be an excellent time for Bilal El Khannouss to find his feet in England. There have been flashes of talent from the £20m summer signing, but they have so far not been frequent to earn him regular game-time.
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