Ricardo Pereira will be concerned about his Leicester City future as he is yet to play a single minute in the Premier League under Steve Cooper.
Ricardo Pereira has been at Leicester City since signing from Porto in 2018 and has racked up 170 appearances across those six years.
The seven-cap Portugal international is an attack-minded full-back who has provided 30 goal contributions at Leicester and was key to promotion last season under Enzo Maresca.
However, Steve Cooper has preferred to play James Justin and Victor Kristiansen as his full-backs in the opening five games of the Premier League season, with Pereira yet to even make it off the bench in the league.
The 30-year-old was impressive as Leicester beat Tranmere Rovers 4-0 in the Carabao Cup last month but saw no change to his league fortunes and Cooper has now spoken on the defender.
Steve Cooper on Ricardo Pereira lack of Leciester City game time
Pereira is expected to come into the side for Leicester’s Carabao Cup clash against Walsall on Tuesday but this will do little to appease the right-back.
For much of their time together at Leicester, Pereira has played on the right of the defence with Justin – who is very two-footed – on the left.
- READ MORE: Leicester City already have their Ricardo Pereira heir in ‘humble’ young talent impressing on loan
However, the return of Kristiansen from his loan at Bologna has seen Cooper prefer the Dane on the left with Justin on the right.
Cooper has explained the situation Pereira finds himself in to Leicestershire Live, saying: “I speak to Ricky all of the time.
“He’s an excellent pro and a very important player in the dressing room, for the culture. He leads by example.
“He’ll want to play games but he knows he’s in a competition like every other player is. Sometimes you’ve got the shirt, you’ve got the nod, and other times you haven’t.
“I’ve said before, we’re in a really strong position at right-back and whoever we play it’s all good.”
Pereira could push to leave Leicester City in January if no change to situation
Pereira played 45 games in all competitions last season, scoring four and assisting three, so will feel he still has plenty to offer.
Justin and Kristiansen have both been decent so far this campaign despite a first Premier League win remaining elusive for Leicester.
Cooper is a far more pragmatic manager than Maresca and this perhaps works against Pereira as he does not necessarily want his full-backs to be too adventurous.
The Leicester boss may need to find a way to keep Pereira happy, though, or the player could look for a new club in January.