Jannik Vestergaard has addressed the decision made by Steve Cooper to drop the defender for Leicester City’s defeat against Aston Villa.
Vestergaard has been a regular in the Foxes starting XI over the past year but for the first time since the end of the 2022/23 season, the Denmark international wasn’t selected – despite being available.
Cooper opted to go with summer signing Caleb Okoli instead but it wasn’t enough as Leicester were beaten 2-1 to leave them waiting for a first Premier League win of the season.
Jannik Vestergaard responds to being dropped for Leicester defeat
After working so hard to come back from being out of the cold at the King Power Stadium, fans were surprised to see Vestergaard relegated to the bench.
The 32-year-old will now return to Seagrave after playing a role in both of Denmark’s Nations League victories – keeping clean sheets against Switzerland and Serbia – and says he is feeling “better than ever” as he prepares to win his place back for Saturday’s visit to Crystal Palace.
“It is a completely natural thing that there is competition for the places and that the coach has a choice to make. I was available and I am available. I am both when I start and when I am on the bench,” he told Danish outlet Bold.dk.
“But I’m in good shape. I actually feel better than ever before. I don’t have an answer to your question in relation to the explanation, but I am available.”
Steve Cooper facing selection headache for Crystal Palace trip
With Leicester looking to get their first win in the Premier League this weekend, it’ll be the first time that Cooper has a plethora of options to choose from at centre-back.
Wout Faes has been the only one of the options to play in every game, however, he has failed to impress in any of those appearances.
Okoli looked somewhat steady against Villa, growing into the game as it went by. Vestergaard has also been hit-and-miss in parts, but one player who will be available again is Conor Coady.
After missing the start of the season with a hamstring injury the former Wolves captain is back and in contention. He’s also been the only central defender at the training ground due to the other trio all being called up for international duty.