Wilfred Ndidi provides injury update as Leicester City prepare for first pre-season game

Wilfred Ndidi feels “in a much better place” after returning to training following a serious knee injury.

The Leicester City midfielder required surgery after damaging ligaments in a 50-50 challenge in the Europa Conference League clash at Rennes in March. He then missed the rest of the season.

The Nigerian international did plenty of work during the off-season, spending time in Dubai for a week of warm-weather training and then returning to Seagrave early to do individual sessions. Last Wednesday was his first session back with his team-mates, and he will hope to play alongside them for the first time in four months when they run out for their first pre-season friendly against Notts County on Saturday.

Ndidi told LCFC TV: “I have been working my way back. I went away for two weeks and came back early. The body has already adapted to it. It’s good. For me, I’m in a much better place.

“It’s good to be back with the lads and seeing all the lads. We’re still waiting for some of the lads but it will be good when everyone comes back and we can look forward to what we want to achieve.”

Ndidi’s tally of 31 appearances in all competitions last season was the fewest he has managed in his five full campaigns at the King Power Stadium since joining from Genk. In the Premier League, he started less than half of the games.

He and manager Brendan Rodgers will want to raise that number significantly for the new season. City have, over the years, felt Ndidi's absence more strongly than that of other players and last season, they won only nine of the 27 matches he didn't start in the Premier League and Europe.

Ndidi added ahead of the match against Notts County at Seagrave: “The training is just to get the body toned up. As soon as