Brendan Rodgers reveals James Maddison was taken off as a ‘precaution’ after hip injury that plagued Leicester star last season flared up again in win at Aston Villa
- James Maddison scored in the first half before going off after 64 minutes
- Brendan Rodgers has said the injury is a recurrence of an issue from last season
- The midfielder is now a doubt for the Europa League clash with Slavia Prague
- Maddison and Jack Grealish’s injuries will be a concern to Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate left Villa Park on Sunday night with injury doubts about two potentially key members of his European Championship plans, with World Cup qualifiers just a month away.
Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish missed his team’s defeat to Leicester with a shin problem, while Leicester’s James Maddison was substituted having aggravated the hip which caused a three-month lay-off last season.
Villa hope that Grealish might be back to face Sheffield United on Wednesday week. Manager Dean Smith suggested he might even be fit for next Saturday’s match at Leeds.
James Maddison went off with a hip injury and is a doubt for the match against Slavia Prague
The 24-year-old had earlier opened the scoring against Aston Villa with a measured finish
But the shin soreness which saw him pulled out of training on Friday does require rest. If he were to be given until the other end of the international break, it would mean five weeks out.
Smith, who would not confirm the nature of Grealish’s injury, said: ‘We pulled him out of training on Friday. It is not a recurrence of an old injury and not going to be long term but I’m guided by our medical staff.’
Rodgers said the removal of Maddison – who required surgery on his hip after last season’s trouble – was also a precaution. The 24-year-old was clutching the hip and in clear discomfort, having initially seemed to injure his shin in a challenge with Villa’s Douglas Luiz.
The in-form Harvey Barnes doubled Leicester’s advantage to take the Foxes back up to second
Maddison’s injury is a concern to Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s World Cup qualifiers
Rodgers said: ‘He had this issue last season a bit. He just felt it in the game. We have to take him off as a precaution. It’s the first time he’s felt it since last season. We will see how he is in the next day or so. We’re hoping it will just be an aggravation and hope it will be alright in a few days.’
Smith expressed concern about Grealish’s absence from training being leaked on social media on Friday – giving Leicester a competitive advantage. Rodgers said he had been aware of the reports.
Smith said: ‘If it’s coming out of our training ground, I will find out and reprimand where it’s coming from. It’s something I wouldn’t be happy with and will raise it.’