The Foxes defeated Sunderland on Tuesday, their 12th victory in their past 13 games in the English second division, and Enzo Maresca’s team appears ready to make a first-time Premier League comeback.
Tony Mowbray, the manager of the Black Cats, even ventured to declare that, even with seven months left in the 2023–24 season, nobody can catch Leicester City.
The Foxes’ eighth straight league victory came at King Power Stadium midweek against Sunderland. Maresca will be hopeful that his team can defeat QPR, who haven’t won a game since the beginning of September, on Saturday at Loftus Road in order to extend this streak to nine games.
Nevertheless, Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City’s standout midfield player, will be absent from the team. The Nigerian international would not travel with the rest of the team, the Italian coach disclosed at his pre-match press conference.
Regarding absences or potential injuries, Maresca responded as follows [quote via club media]:
Wilf is the only one. That appears to be more than just fatigue, as we initially assumed, so he will most likely need to miss a few days or weeks of work.
It’s really a muscle issue that we overlooked; it’s not a major issue. It’s not much, but I believe he will be absent for a few days or weeks at the very least.
Cesare Casadei, a Chelsea loanee, started in Ndidi’s place on Tuesday. Ndidi did not play again. The 26-year-old’s exact return date to the team is unknown.
In the crucial match against Leicester City tomorrow, QPR is a significant underdog when it comes to Gareth Ainsworth’s future in the dugout. Even if Ndidi won’t make QPR favorites, his absence gives them a greater opportunity than if Maresca were playing at his peak in the midfield.
Ainsworth would benefit greatly from a victory for the London team and be able to extend his tenure as QPR manager, but a loss may be the last straw that brings him to an end.
