Callum Doyle

injury latest as Enzo Maresca fears Leicester City defender would be ‘big loss’

Enzo Maresca is concerned about the ‘huge loss’ of Leicester City defender Callum Doyle.
The Manchester City loanee will have a scan on Monday to evaluate the extent of a knee injury. The teenager was pictured leaving the King Power Stadium wearing a leg brace and using crutches.

Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca is optimistic that Callum Doyle’s injury would not be a “big loss” as the defender exited the King Power Stadium on crutches.

Doyle had played every minute of City’s season until halftime of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Bristol City, when he was replaced by James Justin. Following the game, he was seen leaving the pitch with his left leg braced and walking with crutches.

Maresca stated that the Manchester City loanee had injured his knee and that a scan would be performed on Monday to ascertain the degree of the damage. The issue could have started in the first half when Doyle went in for a block tackle.

“He had a problem with his knee,” Maresca explained. “On Monday they’re going to scan him and hopefully it’s nothing because he would be a big loss.”

Justin is the obvious choice if Doyle is ruled out. He deputised for Doyle, making his first home appearance in more than ten months. Maresca, on the other hand, claims he is not a direct substitute for Doyle because he is not left-footed.

“When you have a left-footed player there, it’s completely different,” the manager continued. “JJ has a right foot. He did an outstanding job. If Callum is unavailable, we will be without a left-footed central defender. But we’ll have to wait and see.”

If Victor Kristiansen had stayed at the club, Maresca would have had a natural left-footed player in reserve. The management saw him as a possible replacement for Doyle, but the Dane preferred to play as a typical left-back and agreed to a loan move to Bologna in Serie A in the final week of the transfer window.