Leicester City in turmoil for Chelsea clash with new double injury blow

As they prepare to face Chelsea and former manager Enzo Maresca after the international break, Leicester City have been dealt a new double injury blow that demolishes their attacking department.

Maresca will look forward to returning to familiar surroundings with the Blues next weekend, in part because of the additional challenge the personal rivalry provides and also down to how well his new team have performed this season.

The Foxes are by no means pushovers, especially with the extra motivation they will have, but Chelsea will be seeking to maintain their third-place positioning in the Premier League table creeping towards the packed festive period.

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Steve Cooper took over after Maresca left the King Power Stadium in the summer and his side have largely struggled to piece together any long-term form in the English top-flight. Now, he may have to do battle with a high-flying opponent without two of his key attackers.

Jordan Ayew and Adbul Fatawu are seemingly casualties of the international break, as the Ghanaian FA confirmed in a statement that both had been released from their duties - both with injuries.

The former completed Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier vs Angola on Friday but an MRI scan since revealed 'significant issues' with his knee. The latter, on the other hand, was substituted during the first half of that match.

Returning to Leicester, they will have to be assessed before any decision is made as to their involvement against Chelsea. Since arriving in the summer 33-year-old Ayew has netted crucial winners and equalisers, both in stoppage time of different matches, and Fatawu has been electric in some of his performances.

This piles the pressure on Cooper seeking to name forwards in his line-up. Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Patson Daka, Jamie Vardy are all working towards returns from their existing injuries, but in case they don't make it that could be five attackers sidelined for the Blues' visit.

Maresca has a number of issues to worry about himself, with Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Jadon Sancho, Romeo Lavia, Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill and Omari Kellyman all out in recent weeks.