Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans has withdrawn from the Belgium national team due to an injury he picked up against Leeds United at the weekend, the Belgium Football Federation has confirmed.
Tielemans was taken off in the late stages of Sunday’s 1-1 draw following a collision with Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier but it was not revealed as an issue of concern immediately for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Youri Tielemans picked up an injury in a 1-1 draw against Leeds United at the weekend and has since been forced to drop out of the Belgium national team. He is expected to stay out for a period of two to three weeks. | PHOTO: Sky Sports Premier League |
According to Belgium media, HLN reports that an initial scan has identified damage to Tielemans’ ankle and calf, and the early estimate is that the midfielder will miss between two and three weeks of active football while he recovers.
Instead of reporting for international duty, Tielemans has remained with Leicester City, where he will undergo further tests to determine just how long he will remain on the sidelines and also to work on his fitness to be back as soon as possible.
The midfielder will miss Belgium’s upcoming meetings with Estonia and Wales, but Leicester will also be sweating over his fitness as they will welcome Chelsea to the King Power Stadium on November 20, the first Premier League fixture after the international break.
Tielemans’ involvement in that fixture is in obvious doubt, and the same goes for the Europa League clash with Legia Warsaw, which Leicester is pushing for the knockout stages, and the visit of Watford in the following week.
Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans will be out for two to three weeks due to the injury and will miss Belgium international fixtures scheduled for this week and next week against Estonia and Wales respectively. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
The 24-year-old currently finds himself on a run of 67 consecutive Premier League appearances – the longest of any outfield player in the position – but that run looks set to come to an end, should he miss the clash with the early Premier League leaders.
Instead, Tielemans will join center-back Wesley Fofana on the sidelines in a blow to Brendan Rodgers.
Brendan Rodgers may be about to lose one of his most important players, but the boss hopes to welcome back Marc Albrighton, who is yet to feature for the foxes this season, after the international break and there is also a confidence that full-back James Justin will be back playing games in the coming weeks too.
Justin hasn’t been seen since February when he suffered a nasty knee injury which ended his outside hopes of making the England squad for Euro 2020 despite having an impressive season with Leicester City last campaign.
Tielemans had earlier received a call-up to the Belgium national team but will not join the side. Belgium will also be without two of their forwards with Chelsea man Romelu Lukaku still injured and Chelsea forward on loan at Besiktas Mitchy Batshuayi also on the sidelines.
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