Leeds United receive major boost for Leicester visit with Saturday James Maddison development
James Maddison is out of Leicester City’s game against Leeds United on Thursday after he picked up a fifth booking of the season on Saturday, Ben Dinnery reports.
The number 10 is the star man for Brendan Rodgers’ struggling side, but will now be suspended when Jesse Marsch’s men arrive at the King Power on 20 October after getting yellow carded in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace this weekend (15 October).
The Whites have to face league-leaders Arsenal on Sunday (16 october) first, but head into that game without a win in five.
Injury analyst Ben Dinnery wrote on his personal Twitter account following the Foxes match on Saturday (15 October): “Picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the early kick-off. Misses the visit of Leeds on Thursday.”
Factor
Barring a surprise victory over the Gunners on Sunday it would be six matches and nearly two months since the last victory, 3-0 over Chelsea on 21 August.
So Marsch will have to be targeting the Leicester game either way for three points, with Rodgers’ job coming under major pressure of late amid a run of form that has left his side 19th in the league.
The Foxes have only won once all season, a 4-0 hammering of bottom side Nottingham Forest on 3 October, with Maddison instrumental that night, scoring twice.
With the Englishman taken out of the equation the Whites will fancy their chances to register a morale-boosting victory, and there are likely not many excuses not to do so now.
If they can go into the midweek match on the back of a wave with a positive performance against Arsenal would be all the better, as the strong early weeks of the season have given way to a run of indifferent form.
Last time a big six side came to west Yorkshire they were overwhelmed in what was arguably the finest performance of the Marsch era, so a repeat would be very welcome and send the team into the Leicester trip ready to make the most of the opportunity.
In other Leeds United news, a major talent at the club will have to leave soon if his manager keeps doing the opposite of what he says.