Leicester City Boost Ahead of Stoke Clash as Key Star Returns – But SEVEN Still Sidelined!

Leicester City Boost Ahead of Stoke Clash as Key Star Returns – But SEVEN Still Sidelined!

Leicester City are gearing up for another crucial Championship fixture this weekend, but the squad picture remains a mixed one as they prepare for the trip to Stoke.

There is renewed optimism within the camp after confirmation that one influential figure will be back in contention, handing the Foxes a timely lift in the middle of the park. The return significantly strengthens the manager’s options, particularly in an area that has been heavily relied upon in recent weeks.

In the previous league outing, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and Divine Mukasa were deployed from the start, while Louis Page was introduced for Skipp during the FA Cup encounter at the weekend.

Mukasa has impressed across his two starts so far and appears likely to keep his place in the side.
That leaves fierce competition for the remaining midfield roles, with multiple senior options pushing for inclusion as Leicester look to strike the right balance against Stoke.

Further forward, Abdul Fatawu is also expected to be available despite a “grumble” in his knee that saw him miss the trip to St Mary’s. His availability offers added depth in attacking areas at a time when squad numbers are stretched.

At the back, however, resources remain thin. Caleb Okoli and Ben Nelson are poised to continue as the starting centre-back partnership, with Bade Aluko providing cover. Kevon Gray — still awaiting his senior debut — was named among the substitutes against Southampton and could once again feature in the matchday squad.

Despite the encouraging signs in certain departments, Leicester still face significant absences. No other players are ready to return, meaning seven members of the squad will be unavailable for the clash at the Bet365 Stadium.

Among those missing is attacking midfielder Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who is serving the final match of his three-game suspension. There are also six injury concerns, with Jamaal Lascelles the latest addition to the treatment table. He is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks, ruling him out of this weekend’s encounter and potentially upcoming fixtures against Middlesbrough and Norwich.
Fellow centre-backs Jannik Vestergaard and Harry Souttar remain out, while Hamza Choudhury, Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey are still recovering.

And now for the major boost behind the headlines — the returning figure is Joe Aribo. The Nigerian midfielder missed the last two matches against his parent club Southampton but is now eligible to feature against Stoke on Saturday.

Having started against Birmingham shortly after arriving on loan, he is expected to be a strong contender for a place in the starting XI — particularly if interim boss Andy King stays in charge.

His comeback restores Leicester’s midfield depth to five options for three positions, offering a significant lift. But while one key star returns, the reality remains stark: seven players will still be sidelined as the Foxes head into a pivotal showdown with Stoke.