MX23RW : Monday, December 30 19:06:17| >> :120:19702:19702:

Brendan Rodgers: 'Leicester can cope without Jamie Vardy'

Ayoze Perez and Kelechi Iheanacho have a chance to impress during his absence.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful Jamie Vardy will heal quickly from groin surgery but is confident he has the cover to cope in his absence.

The striker has had an operation on a long-standing hernia problem and last week Rodgers said he would be sidelined for "a few weeks".

Vardy had not scored in his previous five matches before the decision was taken for medical intervention but, in their first match without him, the Foxes put three past Championship side Brighton in the FA Cup.

"After his operation there was a timeline on it. He's a little bit sore as you'd expect but we hope he's a quick healer and he'll be back soon," said Rodgers.

"There is a lot made when Jamie doesn't play, he's one of the best in the league, but our development as a team is about the collective.

"We have scored 53 goals over the course of the season so far: Jamie has 13 and 40 of our goals have come from other people.

"He's a big miss, of course he is. You'll see in the games that Vardy hasn't scored in, we've won five and drawn two. We can't be reliant on one player.

"Barnsey (Harvey Barnes), Madders (James Maddison), Youri (Tielemans) are chipping in. Ayo (Ayoze Perez) I know will score goals."

Perez got the nod up front on Sunday but will face competition from Kelechi Iheanacho.

The pair have five goals between them but Rodgers felt that was a reflection of having to play second-fiddle to Vardy.

"He (Perez) hasn't featured as much this season and that has been unfortunate but part of that has been the form of the team," added the Foxes boss.

"We've had Jamie in that central role, so we've had Ayoze out wide, a position he is comfortable in.

"He's been a very important player for us. It might not feel that for people watching but he will play a really pivotal role for us in the second part of the season.

"Whether it's him, or Kelechi (Iheanacho), or someone else, the responsibility for goals is with the team.

"Kelechi has made a great impact coming into games. He doesn't play as much as a striker needs to get that rhythm but he contributes."

Rodgers said he had no new information on Crystal Palace being linked with a move for Demarai Gray.

"I haven't heard anything new today. There is nothing now on that. He trained this morning and trained very well," he said.

ID:432103: cacheID:432103:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4036:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup on January 24, 2021
Read Next:
FA Cup roundup: Fernandes fires Man United past Liverpool
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea18105338211735
5Manchester CityMan City199463226631
6Bournemouth198652923630
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!