Leicester City boss Dean Smith has told Monday’s press conference – as per Leicestershire Live – that Jamie Vardy, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes will all be available for Tuesday night’s League clash against Leeds United.
Leicester secured a narrow 2-1 win over Wolves on Saturday, their first win in 11 games since the 4-1 triumph over Tottenham back in February. It sees Leicester climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference, above Everton.
While Leeds sit on top of the bottom five in 16th place, everything is to play for. Leeds are in the worst form of the bottom five, losing four of their last five and conceding 18 goals in that time – six to Liverpool, five against Palace.
Now, they come up against a Leicester side that will have more confidence after beating Wolves on the weekend. It gets even worse for Leeds. On Saturday, Leicester were without James Maddison and Harvey Barnes in the 2-1 win.
Vardy started the game, but was hooked at half-time with a knock to his ankle. Smith said in his press conference, though, that all three should be available. Vardy is a certainty, while he expects Barnes and Maddison to be around.
“He’s [Barnes] available for selection. He’ll train again today and if there are no after effects, he’ll be available,” Smith said. On Maddison, he added: “Madders did a gym session and will train today. I’d expect him to be available.”
Then, he continued on Vardy: “His ankle is fine. He’ll be training this morning. He’s available for selection which is important for us. He went into areas where we wanted him to go. We saw the runs he made for Tete’s chance.”
Leicester boss Smith says Maddison and Barnes available against Leeds
For Leicester to secure a win over Wolves without Maddison and Barnes and only 45 minutes with Vardy up top, who showed he has still got it with his run and rounding goalkeeper Jose Sa to win a penalty – is impressive.
The confidence will have grown, but then to have the return of Maddison and Barnes for Tuesday night, along with that confidence of winning a first game in 11, will be massive. It is bad news for a Leeds side only looking down.
