Cooper on Fatawu injury, possible touchline ban and Ipswich 'rise'

Cooper on Fatawu injury, possible touchline ban and Ipswich ‘rise’

Posted by Admin October 31, 2024 Football

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

Abdul Fatawu is “a doubt” because of a “groin issue”. The winger was “not available” to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and the club is still waiting for a scan to determine his availability.
Victor Kristiansen is available after training on Thursday, Patson Daka is also back in training and Jannik Vestergaard came through the cup defeat without any problems. Michael Golding is back training with the squad after a spell out.
Cooper is waiting for “confirmation” about whether he will be allowed on the touchline for Saturday’s game, after being booked at Old Trafford: “It is fairly common now so we will take it as it comes. It probably highlights the decision-making of the referees [in the game]. That is why these things happen, but we’ll deal with it as it comes.”
There are “no problems” with the quick turnaround from the cup game on Wednesday: “We have got to thrive off these little challenges. I don’t see it as a disadvantage. It’s a good chance to show we can adapt to anything that comes our way.”
On whether he will make changes to his midweek starting XI: “We will see. You pick a team that you think is the best fit to win you the game. That doesn’t necessarily mean that if players played last night, they won’t play again at the weekend. Just because we went one way last night doesn’t mean we will go a certain way on Saturday.”
The Foxes could move further away from the relegation zone with a win, but he believes every game is “significant”, adding: “Whoever you’re playing, a win can make such a difference. We have seen that with the two wins we’ve got already. You have to give everything for the next three points. We want to get our third win and there is a big determination to do that.”
Ipswich have been on a “constant rise for the last couple of years” and Cooper doesn’t believe people should underestimate Kieran McKenna’s side: “I don’t think we should assume where people should be in the league. It’s more about understanding who you are playing against, respecting them and knowing that you have to earn your right to win any game.”