Brendan Rodgers DROPS James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury for Leicester’s crunch top four clash with West Ham in mysterious circumstances, with the Foxes boss coy over the reason for their absence
- James Maddison and Ayoze Perez missed Leicester’s trip to West Ham on Sunday
- Hamza Choudhury was another surprise omission from the Foxes’ squad
- Brendan Rodgers remained coy about the trio’s absence ahead of Sunday’s tie
- The Foxes boss confirmed Perez and Maddison will return to training next week
Brendan Rodgers remained coy over why he dropped James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury for Leicester City’s trip to West Ham on Sunday.
The trio were surprise absentees from the Foxes’ matchday squad at the London Stadium for the Sunday afternoon kick-off which was crucial to their Champions League qualification hopes.
Rodgers confirmed that Maddison and Perez will rejoin the squad next week and will be in contention for their FA Cup semi-final with Southampton the following Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers remained coy in explaining why James Maddison, Ayoze Perez and Hamza Choudhury were absent for Leicester City’s trip to West Ham on Sunday
Choudhury (left) and Maddison and Perez (third left and second right) did not travel to London
The Leicester City manager told Sky Sports before the clash with the Hammers: ‘(They are) not available for this game. But after this game he (Maddison) will be fine.
‘He’ll join the group next week and be ready for next weekend’s semi-final. That’s (Maddison) and Ayo (Perez).’
Rumours surfaced on social media over the weekend that several Leicester City players broke coronavirus rules in the UK by attending a house party indoors.
BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: Very much hope these rumours that 5 @LCFC players were left out for going to a house party and breaking Covid rules are not true. I fear they probably are.’
Sportsmail have approached the representatives of Maddison, Perez and Choudhury for comment.
Rodgers confirmed both Perez and Maddison would return for training next week
Third-placed Leicester are on course to finish in the top-four this season but travelled to West Ham in sixth with their Champions League qualification hopes on the line.
Rodger’s Foxes went into the match four points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, who beat European qualification rivals Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday.
David Moyes’ West Ham are also in the mix and were level on points with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds going into the match.
The Foxes also have the FA Cup semi-final to look forward to – their first appearance in the last four of England’s oldest cup competition since 1982.
