Leicester City's 'limited' options impacts team selection and shows need for key summer transfer

Youri Tielemans and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have to keep playing because Leicester City are “limited” in their midfield options, manager Brendan Rodgers has said.

Since City returned from the March international break, they have played six fixtures across the Premier League and Europa Conference League, and Rodgers has rotated his team considerably to protect players amid the busy schedule. However, Tielemans and Dewsbury-Hall have played every minute.

And Rodgers has suggested that will continue to be the case. City have at least nine games remaining this season, with two a week every week until the campaign concludes, but he does not feel he has the options to afford Tielemans and Dewsbury-Hall a rest.

Wilfred Ndidi is injured, Boubakary Soumare is unavailable for personal reasons, Papy Mendy is ineligible for European matches, James Maddison is being played on the wing, Dennis Praet is out on loan, and the club’s youngsters are not yet deemed ready to step up. Hamza Choudhury is available, but has so far been overlooked by Rodgers, the academy graduate an unused substitute for the past five games.

“We’re really limited in that area,” Rodgers said at his press conference on Friday to preview the Midlands derby with Aston Villa. “That’s the reality of it in terms of the squad.

“Again, it shows where we’re at as a squad that those guys have to keep playing but they’re also recovering in between the games very well. After Saturday, then you’ve got a longer period to recover.

“When you see them play, it doesn’t take too much away from them. You see Kiernan’s incredible energy levels, his drive and determination is there, and Youri’s quality is there. If we had the possibility to change it around, maybe we would have done,