MX23RW : Monday, February 1 18:36:51| >> :60:2779:2779:

Brendan Rodgers: 'Leicester can cope without Jamie Vardy'

Brendan Rodgers: 'Leicester can cope without Jamie Vardy'
© Reuters
Ayoze Perez and Kelechi Iheanacho have a chance to impress during his absence.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful Jamie Vardy will heal quickly from groin surgery but is confident he has the cover to cope in his absence.

The striker has had an operation on a long-standing hernia problem and last week Rodgers said he would be sidelined for "a few weeks".

Vardy had not scored in his previous five matches before the decision was taken for medical intervention but, in their first match without him, the Foxes put three past Championship side Brighton in the FA Cup.

"After his operation there was a timeline on it. He's a little bit sore as you'd expect but we hope he's a quick healer and he'll be back soon," said Rodgers.

"There is a lot made when Jamie doesn't play, he's one of the best in the league, but our development as a team is about the collective.

"We have scored 53 goals over the course of the season so far: Jamie has 13 and 40 of our goals have come from other people.

"He's a big miss, of course he is. You'll see in the games that Vardy hasn't scored in, we've won five and drawn two. We can't be reliant on one player.

"Barnsey (Harvey Barnes), Madders (James Maddison), Youri (Tielemans) are chipping in. Ayo (Ayoze Perez) I know will score goals."

Perez got the nod up front on Sunday but will face competition from Kelechi Iheanacho.

The pair have five goals between them but Rodgers felt that was a reflection of having to play second-fiddle to Vardy.

"He (Perez) hasn't featured as much this season and that has been unfortunate but part of that has been the form of the team," added the Foxes boss.

"We've had Jamie in that central role, so we've had Ayoze out wide, a position he is comfortable in.

"He's been a very important player for us. It might not feel that for people watching but he will play a really pivotal role for us in the second part of the season.

"Whether it's him, or Kelechi (Iheanacho), or someone else, the responsibility for goals is with the team.

"Kelechi has made a great impact coming into games. He doesn't play as much as a striker needs to get that rhythm but he contributes."

Rodgers said he had no new information on Crystal Palace being linked with a move for Demarai Gray.

"I haven't heard anything new today. There is nothing now on that. He trained this morning and trained very well," he said.

ID:432103:cQx

Click here for more stories about Brendan Rodgers

Click here for more stories about Everton

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup on January 24, 2021
Read Next:
FA Cup roundup: Fernandes fires Man United past Liverpool
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City20135237132444
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd21125437271041
3Liverpool21117343241940
4Leicester CityLeicester21123637251239
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham2110563127435
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs2096534211333
7Chelsea2196635231233
8Everton1910362924533
9Aston Villa19102734211332
10Arsenal219482620631
11Southampton208572725229
12Leeds UnitedLeeds209293536-129
13Crystal Palace217592536-1126
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2165102130-923
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2164112134-1322
16Burnley2064101326-1322
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton214982329-621
18Fulham2028101729-1214
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2126131750-3312
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2122171234-228

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!