Leicester City have been dealt a huge blow before their make-or-break Europa League match against Napoli later tonight, as the club confirm they have multiple illness and Covid-19 cases in the squad.
Seven Foxes players, including Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman have not travelled to Naples, where they need just a point to secure qualification for the knockout stage.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has spoke about the difficulties of preparing for such a huge match for the club with illness ruling several key names out.
He said: “We have had some positive cases and some people who are not well so we haven’t taken the risk,
“We will have seven unavailable. It’s been the last few days really, you’re starting to see a few more cases. It’s about the health of our players and we have to respect the travel, coming into Italy.
“We still have a strong squad here, but unfortunately not a fully-fit squad.”
The game kicks off at 17:45 GMT.
Team news
As well as Iheanacho and Lookman, Daniel Amartey and Jannik Vestergaard are also among the seven who haven’t travelled. Only one has recorded a positive test for coronavirus, but the others are being kept away from the team as a precaution.
When asked who specifically has the virus, Rodgers added: “That’s something you will see in time. We will have seven unavailable.”
The good news for Rodgers is he can welcome back midfielder Youri Tielemans, who has missed the last five games, and left-back Ryan Bertrand is available.
Permutations
For Leicester, it is as simple as win tonight and they top Group C, which will see them bypass the last 32 and avoid a third-placed Champions League team.
A draw would also be enough, but that would have to be matched or bettered than Spartak Moscow’s result against Legia Warsaw.
A defeat for the Foxes and they could live to regret dropping two points back in September against their opponents tonight. Although only a win will do for the hosts, as Spartak hold the head-to-head record on them from their two meetings earlier in the group.