James faces six-week lay-off

Leicester midfielder Matty James faces a six-week lay-off with an Achilles injury.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury during the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the King Power Stadium on 9 September, and Foxes' boss Craig Shakespeare confirmed on Friday that the former Manchester United youth player will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

"Unfortunately, Matty James will be out for around four to six weeks,"  Shakespeare said ahead of Saturday's Premier League game against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium, which is live on BT Sport 1 [kick off 5.30pm]

"He's got an Achilles strain and his foot is in a boot."

James missed the entire 2015-16 Premier League title-winning season because of ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments, and Shakepeare expects the midfielder to take this latest "short-term" injury in his stride.

"I'm gutted for Matty as an individual because of the timing of it," the Foxes' boss said.

"He's worked his way back but it's something he can deal with mentally as it's short term rather than long term.

"I know what Matty has been through. He's at that stage where he wants to do well and train and doesn't want to sit out training. I have to say, for the last 18 months, including the Barnsley loan, he hasn't missed a day's training.

"He picked this up against Chelsea and carried on. Maybe if he'd have come off, he might have protected it a bit more, but that's the nature and the character of the player."

Striker Jamie Vardy is likely to start against Jurgen Klopp's side after missing Tuesday's 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Liverpool with a groin injury.

"'We had to take it easy with Jamie the first part of the week but he trained this morning," Shakespeare continued.

"Hopefully, there will be no reaction. We will see in the morning, he is okay."

In other Leicester news, former manager Nigel Pearson has been named head coach of Belgian second division side OH Leuven.

The club is also owned by the Srivaddhanaprabha family, who sacked Pearson as Leicester boss in June 2015.

Leicester City are next in action on the eir Sport pack in their Premier League game against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, 23 September, a match which will be shown live on BT Sport 1 [kick off 5.30pm]

Image: Getty Images/Michael Regan

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