JibrinGary Rowett faces a fresh goalkeeping crisis this morning after veteran shot-stopper Asmir Begovic was dramatically forced out of the Norwich clash with a worrying injury – leaving the 38-year-old’s availability for next weekend’s Ipswich Town trip hanging by a thread.
The 199cm Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who commands a reported £50,000-per-week wage after joining Leicester on a free transfer from Everton in July 2025, rolled his ankle in the pre-match warm-up and had to pull out just moments before kick-off. It’s the latest cruel blow for a player whose illustrious career spans over 500 professional appearances, including a Premier League winners’ medal with Chelsea in 2016/17 and a Guinness World Record for the longest goal in football history – a staggering 91.9-metre thunderbolt against Southampton in 2013.
Begovic’s late withdrawal forced Jakub Stolarczyk into an unexpected first start in weeks, but the 2-0 defeat that followed only highlighted what the Foxes were missing without their calming influence between the sticks. Since his Leicester debut earlier this season, the former Stoke and Bournemouth man has made eight appearances across all competitions. While he’s conceded 15 goals, his value goes far beyond statistics – veteran leadership, organisational skills, and crucial saves have been pivotal, including a Man of the Match display against his former club Stoke in November.
The timing couldn’t be more devastating. Leicester sit deep in the relegation mire, and losing a keeper with Begovic’s pedigree – 256 Premier League appearances and 63 caps for Bosnia – is the last thing a survival battler needs. Signed on a one-year deal running until June 2026, every match he misses deals another blow to their fading hopes of staying up.
Speaking after his first home game in charge of the Foxes, Rowett explained the pre-match switch between the sticks.
“I think he rolled his ankle, it’s probably not the type of luck you want, of course he’s gone into the team just give us that little bit of a calming experience.
“Jakub, to be fair to him, made a couple of good saves in the game as well so there’s no issue.
“Caleb as well, that’s been a bit of a problem for the team, it’s been sort of continuous injuries and players missing.
“I was hoping that we’d actually get some back, which we had today in Jamaal and JJ, certainly nice to get them both back out on the pitch and available.
“I presume so [a doubt for next week], I’ll wait and see what, what the news would be on him [Begovic].
“Caleb again, I think he felt unwell. I’m not sure the reason behind it. He obviously took a whack above his eye on Tuesday night, his eye was closed yesterday.
“It was touch and go whether he would be available, but he was fine, towards the end of yesterday afternoon his eye opened up, a little bit of swelling went down.
“So I don’t I don’t quite know why he was feeling unwell today. We’ll have to find out.”
Jibrin
