‘As soon as….’ :steve Cooper provide latest injury update on ‘brilliant’ Leicester city star after return to seagrave

Steve Cooper has been without striker Patson Daka since the start of the season at Leicester City.

   With Kelechi Iheanacho out of contract in June and Jamie Vardy injured in the first friendly of the summer, Patson Daka has been part of the pre-season.

   Daka scored seven goals and provided five assists in 20 league games to help Leicester to the title last season but looked set to play a bigger role following the arrival of Steve Cooper in the summer.

   However, the Zambian suffered an ankle injury in the last summer friendly against RC Lens which required surgery and has been sidelined ever since.

   Fortunately, Vardy recovered ahead of schedule and returned fit for the start of the season, but Daka’s injury forced Leicester to agree a loan deal for Odsonne Edouard on deadline day.

   Steve Cooper admits he is unsure when Patson Daka will return to Leicester City

   Vardy has been vital for Leicester already this season, scoring twice, but at 37 years of age his burden needs some handling.

   Edouard has yet to show that he can handle the goalscoring burden – although it’s still early days – so Leicester fans will want Daka back as soon as possible.

   Now Cooper has offered an update on Daka, admitting the player has returned to Seagrave, but it could be a while before we see the striker back in action.

   Cooper explained, “I’m not sure about the timeline.    He’s back on the grass for sure, but he’s nowhere near training with the team.

   “He is continuing well with his rehabilitation and the medical team are very pleased with his progress. And he has a brilliant attitude towards everything he does.

   “He will be back as soon as his body and injury allow.”

   Leicester City in trouble if anything happens to Jamie Vardy

   Vardy, a certified Leicester club legend, is arguably the club’s greatest ever player given his longevity playing at the top level.

   A Premier League winner and a member of the 100 Club and an FA Cup winner, Vardy will forever remain in Leicester’s history books.

   The veteran striker continues to add to his legacy and firing the Foxes to safety this season could be one of his greatest achievements.

   However, it’s hard for Leicester fans not to worry about what would happen if something were to happen to their talisman.

   Edouard has scored just 18 goals in 98 Premier League appearances so far in his career so the news that Daka is nowhere near a return is worrying.

   Cooper will love to wrap Vardy in cotton wool and the striker is rarely injured, but if something were to happen it would significantly reduce Leicester’s chances of staying in the Premier League.