Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has ruled Jamie Vardy out of Saturday’s clash against Manchester United and has leapt to the defence of Harry Maguire.
The Foxes’ talisman missed the last four matches before the international break with a knee injury and the evening clash at Old Trafford on Saturday has come too soon for the former England international.
Rodgers provided an update on the 35-year-old’s fitness in his pre-match press conference which was held earlier today.
The former Liverpool and Celtic manager said: “He’s (Vardy) certainly not ready for the weekend. We’ll assess it over the next week.”
The absence of Vardy will be a welcome relief for the United backline and his former teammate Maguire, who has endured a difficult week, in-particular.
In Tuesday night’s international friendly against Ivory Coast, United’s captain was booed by the Wembley crowd.
England manager Gareth Southgate and Maguire’s international teammates have been vocal in their support behind the 29-year-old and Rodgers has shown his support to United’s number five.
The Northern Irishman, who managed Maguire for eight games during his time at the King Power Stadium before his big-money move to United, said: “My question would be what help does it (booing) do?
“By nature of the word supporter, you are there to support. I was disappointed for him. He’s a brilliant guy. He has the tools to overcome it.
“You need resilience. He has the focus on him at a big club. He’s a resilient guy. Internationally, Harry has been a great player for England over these past three or four seasons.
“Maybe it’s just the modern world, patience is short now. It doesn’t do a player any good. You support through the good and the bad.”
There is no denying as Rodgers has alluded to, Maguire’s form has been significantly better for England than it has at Manchester United.
Maguire will be delighted that his former teammate Vardy, who has the pace to trouble and unnerve him, has been ruled out of the clash.
But with the vultures circling and the question marks surrounding his form building, Harry Maguire has got to come out fighting, starting with a dominant and commanding performance against his former side at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday.
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