Leicester City vs Stoke City - Back problem rules Wes Morgan out against Stoke

Posted Saturday, April 01, 2017 by PA

Leicester captain Wes Morgan has been ruled out of the clash with Stoke as he continues to battle a back problem.

The defender was sidelined for the Foxes' 3-2 win at West Ham before the international break - the first Premier League game he has missed since December 2014.

Yohan Benalouane stands by to deputise again on Saturday after making his first league appearance of the season with Morgan also struggling for Tuesday's visit of Sunderland.

Boss Craig Shakespeare said: "He's still not fully recovered unfortunately, we're trying to give him every opportunity, it is a nerve problem in his back and with those you can't rush.

"We're trying to let nature run its course but unfortunately he won't be ready for Saturday and - if I'm honest - it'll be touch and go for Tuesday. We're seeing how he is in 24 or 48 hours.

"He can get the treatment. But with a hamstring or something like that, you know how long it will be, whether it's four to six weeks. With a back you are not quite so sure. We're trying to give Wes enough time himself to see how he feels, then push him when its right."

Shinji Okazaki has returned from international duty with Japan but Nampalys Mendy is struggling with a knee injury.

Victory over Stoke would maintain Shakespeare's 100 per cent record as manager and he has won all four games since replacing Claudio Ranieri last month, but the boss insisted he needs to keep his cool.

"With all the records, I'm very conscious you have to keep a bit of humility about it," he said, with the Foxes six points above the relegation zone.

"We know that it wasn't so long ago that our form was being questioned.

"We know that at the moment we are playing with a lot of confidence, but that word 'humility' has to be important from my point of view towards the players to keep them level-headed. We also (like) to make sure there is no complacency."

Meanwhile, Mark Hughes was unconcerned when Stoke team-mates Joe Allen and Glenn Whelan clashed during the international break having seen far worse in the confines of a training ground.

Wales' ill-tempered trip to the Republic of Ireland last week saw a number of incidents, none more horrifying than the broken leg Seamus Coleman suffered from a Neil Taylor tackle, and two of Hughes' club players were involved in another flashpoint when Whelan's forearm struck Allen.

The two squared up to each other at the time, though Hughes insists it is water under the bridge now the pair are back in the Potteries, where Charlie Adam's jokes mean the incident is unlikely to be totally forgotten.

However, Hughes admits such run-ins are more frequent behind closed doors on the training pitch and he recalled one such incident where Remi Moses and Jesper Olsen came to blows in 1986 when he was at Manchester United.

"I looked at it myself and I think Glenn was thinking he was going to crash into Joe and he made an involuntary action in my view," Hughes said of events in Dublin.

"I don't think he actually threw an elbow, I think maybe he went to protect himself from the clash and he caught Joe on the chin, so that can happen.

"But you saw almost immediately Glenn saying he didn't do it on purpose and he made that point quite forcefully on the pitch I think! It's something of nothing.

"It happens more often in training games during the week, which people never hear about it, when the cameras aren't on. It is part and parcel of the game. People react to at times being clumped. That's how it is but there is no problem whatsoever.

"Way back I seem to recall Remi Moses whacking Jesper Olsen That got out, which was unheard of in those days. Mind you he did have a good cut, and it was a good punch! It does happen."

Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri's calf problem will likely keep him out for an eighth straight game.

The Swiss has not featured for his club since a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on January 21, despite going away with Switzerland during the international break.

Phil Bardsley is suspended following his dismissal against Chelsea, goalkeeper Jack Butland (ankle) is still not ready to play yet even though he has returned to training and Glen Johnson (shoulder) remains sidelined too.