Match of the Day pundit Shay Given has admitted he has some sympathy for Danny Ward after his difficult afternoon against Wolves.
Leicester City were beaten 3-0 by Wolves on Sunday, with Ward staring in goal for the Foxes after Mads Hermansen failed to recover from injury in time.
Ward’s inclusion in the line up angered Leicester supporters and they found themselves three goals down in the first half after a collection of defensive errors.
The goalkeeper was one of two Leicester players to be booed by the fans on every touch of the ball.
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Shay Given’s honest response to Leicester fans booing Danny Ward
Ruud van Nistelrooy defended Ward in his post-match interview after the game and during the post-match analysis on Match of the Day Two, Given said that the Wales international would’ve found it “tough”.
“I’ve been there, it’s a tough and lonely position, the former Republic of Ireland international said. “A lot goes on in between your ears.
“Ruud [van Nistelrooy] has been super positive by coming out [and defending Ward]. They are in it together. They have to get round Ward in the next few days and support him. I’m sure they have sports psychologists at the club as well. They have to stick together.
“It’s not just the goalkeeper. It is the balance of the team that they have to get right and Ruud will know that.”
Danny Ward likely to leave Leicester in the summer
The relationship between Ward and supporters is seemingly at an all-time low.
This was the 31-year-old’s first league start since March 2023 when the Foxes were beaten 3-1 at home by Chelsea and in the two games he has played in the Premier League this season, Leicester have conceded six goals.
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Ward is one of the Leicester players out of contract in 2025 and as one of the higher earners at the club, with Capology reporting he is earning £40,000-a-week, Leicester will want to free up money on the wage bill to bring in new additions.
It’s unlikely they will be able to find a move for him in January, but it feels inevitable that Ward could’ve played for the last time at the King Power Stadium and that a move away would be best for all concerned.