Steve Cooper has explained why Jamie Vardy and Ricardo Pereira are both not involved in Leicester City’s Premier League match against Manchester United.
Leicester were defeated 5-2 by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side in the EFL Cup last week but they bounced back with a 1-1 draw away to Ipswich Town.
So, many Foxes fans would have fancied their chances of getting a result at Old Trafford on Sunday – until the lineups were announced.
Two important players are missing from the matchday squad and here’s why…
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Why Jamie Vardy and Ricardo Pereira miss out vs Man Utd
Cooper was asked ahead of the Man Utd game about Vardy and Pereira’s absences, and his answer will worry Leicester fans.
“He (Vardy) is injured. And Ricardo Pereira as well,” said the Welshman, via Leicester’s official X.
“It happens, none of us want injuries, but unfortunately both picked up injuries last week and have been unable to recover for today, which is unfortunate but we look forward to the game.”
Cooper made no further comments on how long the pair will be unavailable, giving Foxes fans hope that they could return against Chelsea after the international break.
Vardy is still one of Leicester’s key players, despite his age, and had started all 10 previous league games in the 2024/25 season.
Pereira is probably not so important but Cooper’s side are short of natural full-backs besides James Justin and Victor Kristiansen.
Steve Cooper’s interesting lineup vs Man Utd
Cooper picked an interesting lineup for the Premier League clash with Man Utd, with no out-and-out striker.
- Leicester City lineup: Mads Hermansen; James Justin, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, Victor Kristiansen; Harry Winks, Boubakary Soumare, Wilfred Ndidi; Abdul Fatawu, Jordan Ayew, Facundo Buonanotte
Fatawu, Bounanotte and Ayew – who rescued a point against Ipswich – are all decent attacking options but there are concerns among Leicester supporters over the lack of a focal point
Odsonne Edouard would surely have expected to start in a situation like this, when Vardy is injured, and his exclusion suggests that Cooper has little faith in him.