Brendan Rodgers optimistic of Leicester City defensive boost for Leeds United clash

Northern Ireland international centre-back Evans picked up a back problem after landing awkwardly in last weekend's 1-0 victory at Arsenal and missed Leicester's Europa League clash against AEK Athens in Greece on Thursday evening.

His injury came as part of a double blow for the Foxes with Belgian international full-back Timothy Castagne also forced to miss the clash against AEK having twinged his hamstring.

Castagne is set to be out until after the November international break and the Foxes already had injury problems with Wilfred Ndidi and Caglar Soyuncu both sidelined following serious adductor injuries whilst Ricardo Pereira remains on the comeback trail from a cruciate ligament injury.

Yet Rodgers is now hopeful that Evans will be fit to face Marcelo Bielsa's Whites in Monday night's 8pm kick-off at Elland Road.

"I don't think we have any great changes to what it was before," said Rodgers, asked about his latest team news at his pre-match press conference.

"We are hopeful that Jonny will be back.

"We have had the scan and that has come up clear so we are hopeful that he will be available.

"Apart from that, we don't have anyone who has been out longer term to be back but other than that the squad are really happy, they have got great spirit and we will go there knowing it's going to be a really tough game but that's the challenge that we want."

Leicester's star striker and 2019-20 Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy has been managing a calf issue but the forward came off the bench to bag the only goal of the game in last weekend's win at Arsenal and then made his first start since the beginning of October in the Europa League clash in Athens.

Vardy came through 70 minutes with the striker winning the Foxes a first-half penalty that he then netted.

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Thank you Laura Collins