Jamie Vardy set for more weeks on the sidelines with new knee injury

Jamie Vardy is set to be out for “a few weeks” due to a knee issue, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

Vardy sustained the problem in the 1-0 Premier League win over Leeds at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, in which the 35-year-old forward was making his first start of 2022 having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Rodgers said at his press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League last-16 first leg at home against Rennes: “Vards will be out, he unfortunately got injured in the last game so he’s going to be out for a few weeks, which is a shame.

“He got a knock to his knee, but hopefully in the next three to four weeks it responds OK. He just felt soreness the day after the game.”

Rodgers added of Vardy, who had scored on his comeback appearance off the bench when the Foxes won 2-0 at Burnley four days prior to the Leeds match: “It’s very frustrating, for him in particular of course, having been out for the period of time, working so hard to get back.

“And then you see the difference he makes coming into the team, and so then for us it’s frustrating because you miss that level of player. It’s just unfortunate really. Hopefully he can get back and get fit again, and we’ll see how he is in the next few weeks.”

James Maddison, absent on Saturday because of a back injury, and James Justin are set to return from their injury lay-offs on Thursday, but there will be no comeback in the match for Wesley Fofana.

The defender, who broke his leg in pre-season, has been nearing a first appearance of the campaign but is unavailable after testing positive for coronavirus.

Rodgers said: “He’s picked up Covid. It’s been our season, right the way through with injuries and unfortunate circumstances. So he’s not