Leicester City Winger Fatawu Ruled Out for Season Due to Knee Injury

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has confirmed that winger Abdul Fatawu will be sidelined for the remainder of the current season due to a “serious” knee injury. Fatawu has contributed two assists in the Premier League this season. The promising 20-year-old prospect sustained the injury while representing Ghana during their international break match against Angola, which ended in a draw. “It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” stated Leicester boss Steve Cooper, whose team is scheduled to play Chelsea in the top flight this Saturday at 12:30 GMT. Cooper further elaborated, “He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season.” He described the injury as “a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is. Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.” Fatawu was instrumental in the Foxes’ promotion last season and has made 11 league appearances for the club in the current campaign. On 21 October, he played a key role in Leicester’s 3-2 comeback victory against Southampton, entering the match in the second half when the Foxes were trailing 2-0. He had subsequently started the three games for the club following that match. Following Fatawu’s display against the Saints, former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given commented, “This guy is absolutely lightning, he’s a brilliant player to come off the bench. He probably should be starting, he’s a brilliant talent.” Leicester currently occupies 15th position in the Premier League standings, having accumulated 10 points from their initial 11 matches. Cooper further remarked, “He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.” He concluded by stating, “It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case.”