Leicester City handed triple fitness concern ahead of WBA showdown as Leeds United watch on

Title-chasing Leicester City are sweating on the fitness of three key players ahead of their pivotal Championship clash with West Bromwich Albion. Jamie Vardy, Ricardo Pereira, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are all doubts for tomorrow's lunchtime encounter.

Striker Vardy took a kick to the leg this week, midfielder Dewsbury-Hall has been ill while the Foxes are keen to manage defender Ricardo’s workload, with the Portuguese having made three starts inside a week off the back of a month-long injury. “We have some doubts about Jamie, who had a kick during the week, and Ricky because of the amount of games after the injury,” Maresca said at his press conference on Friday afternoon. “Kiernan has been unwell for a few days this week. So we have some doubts. Kasey (McAteer) is back. That’s all.”

When pressed on the significance of those injuries in preparation for the Baggies clash, he said: “Very significant. For Jamie and Ricky, it’s more a physical problem. Kiernan has been just unwell. We’ll see. We have still 24 hours. We’ll see if we can have some of them back for the game.

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“I don’t think Ricky has struggled this year. He has played more minutes than the last three years. He has been fantastic in the way he has played with us, and with his physicality also. It’s normal with all this amount of games that he can have some problems. But he has always played. We’ll see for tomorrow.”

Maresca's team are second in the Championship, one place higher and a point point better off than the Whites, who visit Middlesbrough on Monday. They also have a game in hand over United - a home match with Southampton next Tuesday.